23/08/2025
SSN STATEMENT ON PLANNED TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
22 August 2025
The Swaziland Solidarity Network condemns in the strongest possible terms the Swazi government's decision to host a so-called "Traditional Leadership Conference" that will allegedly cost an exorbitant R185 million. To be held on 4 - 8 September 2025, this conference will bring together over 200 kings and chiefs from 53 African countries.
This comes at a time when the Swazi nation is buckling under the weight of a collapsing public health system, high unemployment and abject poverty. To spend so much on a conference, is nothing but betrayal of the people.
In Swaziland, hospitals have become death traps where patients are turned back empty handed because theres nothing to treat them with. Students are sitting at home because of lack of funds and the ever rising cost of education. Joblessness and the indignity of poverty has pushed many young people into drugs, crime and suicides. Yet instead of addressing these challenges, Mswati’s government chooses to throw R185 million into a four day vanity project that will only serve to boost Mswati’s over inflated ego.
The people of Swaziland should not let this issue go unchallenged. It should serve as a rallying point that will unite and help them set aside their differences which the regime uses to keep them weak. This moment calls for them to unite behind the common purpose of dismantling the tinkhundla sysyem once and for all.
We further call on all progressive forces, trade unions, civil society and broader Swazi society to rise in collective action against this reckless abuse of public funds. The R185 million that will be spent on the conference could be used to buy medication that can save lives and educate young people so they can have brighter futures. Instead it is squandered on a useless conference that will benefit no one but the king and his friends.
The time to end it all is now.
Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network.
For more information, please contact:
Mfanafuthi Tsela
Spokesperson
Cell: +27 72 217 7750
Lucky Lukhele
Spokesperson
Cell: +27 81 458 5658
