Swazis show apathy for new constitution, political life, says bishop

Published: 2006-02-02

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- Swaziland's people have shown apathy toward the country's new constitution, partly because personal problems seem more pressing than political issues, said a church leader. The constitution, which was implemented in late January, retains the absolute powers of Swaziland's monarch, King Mswati III, and does not include the right of political parties to exist. Swaziland's 1.2 million people were told, "'Here is your constitution' and there was no public participation in the constitution-making process," said Bishop Louis Ndlovu of Manzini, Swaziland. The church tried to run civic education programs, "but without the government's support we don't have enough funds to do this work," he told Catholic News Service in a late-January telephone interview from Manzini.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .