Swaziland: Sive Siyinqaba National Movement

Extracted from: Deane Stuart 2009 "Chapter 12: Swaziland" IN Denis Kadima and Susan Booysen (eds) Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa 1989-2009: 20 Years of Multiparty Democracy, EISA, Johannesburg, 474.

Sive Siyinqaba, led by Isaac Shabangu and Zibuse Simelane, was launched as a cultural movement on 2 April 1996 to counter the perceived anti-monarchical radicalism espoused by Pudemo and the trade union movement, but supported the restoration of multiparty politics. It reconstituted itself as a political organisation on 5 August 2006, restyling itself as Sive Siyinqaba National Movement (SS), with a wide support base amongst conservatives (Mzizi 2005,. 16, 17, 19-22, 25; IRIN 2006). The objectives of the movement emphasised the importance of protecting and conserving Swazi heritage, including the institution of the monarchy, but it represents a modernising element among conservatives, in as much as it places great value on democracy. This impulse as summed up in the preamble to its Constitution:

The Movement therefore, seeks to take the social structures, ideals, customs and philosophy of the Swazi as a starting point, and, without destroying this fabric, inject dynamism to allow for change and development.

The movement has become increasingly outspoken and critical of the government, such as when the Rule of Law crisis erupted in 2002 and more recently over the decision to bar civil servants, and therefore teachers, from standing for election. As with the other two well-established parties, the SS has an elaborate constitution laying down party structures that provides for a youth wing and a women's wing; in addition the constitution has a clause that specifies that, "To ensure that women are adequately represented in all decision-making structures; the Movement shall establish and implement an empowerment programme in all its structures including the provision of quotas and co-option where normal processes did not accommodate Gender" (Mzizi 2005, 22, 23; Times of Swaziland 2008).

The party itself had several members in the 2003 House of Assembly and a majority of appointed members in the Senate. It fielded candidates for the primaries in 2008, several of whom made it through to stand for election to the House of Assembly. The SS's manifesto for the 2008 campaign is a long, complex and comprehensive document that is broadly liberal in outlook and, while stressing the importance of traditional institutions such as the monarchy and the chiefs, places much emphasis on codifying their powers and responsibilities to curb abuse of power, the training of traditional leaders in the proper performance of their roles, and decentralisation of governance. The economic values espoused are free-market-orientated, but value state intervention to indigenise the economy and empower local entrepreneurs as well as to attain developmental goals in healthcare, education, family planning and food security (Magongo 2008; Sive Siyinqaba National Movement Undated).

Official web site

Sive Siyinqaba National Movement: [www] http://www.sivesiyinqaba.co.sz/ [opens new window] (accessed 31 Mar 2010).

References

CONSTITUTION OF SIVE SIYINQABA NATIONAL MOVEMENT Undated, [www] http://www.sivesiyinqaba.co.sz/CONSTITUTION%20FOR%20PRINTING.pdf [opens new window] (accessed 31 Mar 2010).

IRIN 2006 "Traditional chiefs find new constitution disagreeable", 18 August, [www] http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080203143009554C732856 [opens new window] (accessed 31 Mar 2010).

MAGONGO, M 2008 "Sive pushes for power" Times of Swaziland 10 August, [www] http://www.times.co.sz/News/502.html (offline 31 Mar 2010).

MZIZI, JB 2005 Political Movements and the Challenges for Democracy in Swaziland, Johannesburg, EISA Research Report No. 18.

SIVE SIYINQABA NATIONAL MOVEMENT UNDATED, Manifesto, [www] http://www.sivesiyinqaba.co.sz/MANIFESTO%20FOR%20PRINTING_finals.pdf [opens new window] (accessed 31 Mar 2010).

TIMES OF SWAZILAND 2008 "Sive siyinqaba attacks TSC on barring teachers from elections", 2 August, [www] http://www.times.co.sz/News/318.html (offline 31 Mar 2010).