Eswatini: Pudemo Praises 'Mature' Princess Sikhanyiso, Condemns Her Twitter Shut-Down

press release

The below is a statement issued by Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). It appears here in MISA-Swaziland's e-Forum, an 'online space' for news and information on Swaziland's civil society and NGO sector -- and for more general news and information on media freedom. The e-Forum is a practical expression of MISA-Swaziland's mission to promote free speech and access to information. The Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has learned with utter shock and dismay reports that following a healthy dialogue between ourselves and HRH Princess Sikhanyiso pressure has been exerted to her to delete her twitter account. PUDEMO has been informed that the Princess was scolded and berated for engaging with PUDEMO on the social media platform over the past weekend particularly after the local media picked this up and made a story of our conversation.

It is now clear who the enemy of freedom of expression is as well as who refuses dialogue, minute and elementary as it may be. PUDEMO has again taken the moral high ground, despite some pockets of vilification from some within our ranks, and proven to the world that the obstinate King Mswati regime would hear nothing about us even when we have clearly showed our intentions as reasonable, understanding and more importantly committed to peace while not compromising on our principles. Despite our cordial engagements with the Princess, which were nothing but political education on her part on what we stand for, those within the circle of royals felt that she must not speak to us and forced her to delete her twitter account. Indeed we have confirmed that she has removed herself from twitter.

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