Eswatini Denies Mbeki’s Alleged Dialogue With Opposition

A spokesperson for the government of Eswatini says former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s visit to the country last week had nothing to do with facilitating dialogue between the government in Mbabane and pro-democracy groups. There was speculation that former President Mbeki from the African National Congress is interested in encouraging dialogue to bring about democracy in the small southern African country. Eswatini government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo tells VOA’s James Butty, King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, has announced a national dialogue after the September 2023 parliamentary elections. However, analysts say polls in Eswatini are not democratic because