Eswatini: Elected Activist Vows to Bring Change

25 September 2013
allAfrica.com
By Victor Chipato

Prominent pro-democracy activist Jan Sithole, who won a seat in parliament as an independent candidate, has vowed to fight for reform and steer the country's politics towards democracy.

Speaking to BBC's Focus on Africa programme, Sithole, who is among the 55 elected lawmakers, said that he would bring change to the country, which is Africa's last absolute monarchy without fail.

He leads the Swaziland Democratic Party (Swadepa), but stood as an independent after the monarchy banned political parties and campaigning.

"I will campaign for the bill of rights to be respected and also try to lobby for multi-party democracy by pushing for the lifting of a long-standing ban on political parties," Sithole told the BBC.

Sithole reportedly went on to acknowledge that the country's constitution guarantees the freedom of expression and association, but laws have not been put in place to support the country's supreme law.

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