Church official: Swazi government does not intend to make reforms

Published: 2007-04-26

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- The government in Swaziland has no intention of making democratic reforms, a church official said after the king's representatives canceled their seventh appointment to meet with church and civil leaders. "At least we are now seen to be truthful when we say our government is not committed to dialogue, despite its assurances to the contrary," said Father Pius Magagula, an official of the Manzini Diocese's justice and peace commission. Father Magagula is one of two Catholic representatives to the National Constitutional Assembly -- a coalition of churches, labor movements and opposition parties -- which was to discuss change in southern Africa's only absolute monarchy with members of the king's hand-picked Cabinet in mid-April in the capital, Mbabane. "There was a lot of anger" and disappointment at the last-minute cancellation, Father Magagula told Catholic News Service April 19 in a telephone interview from Manzini.

Copyright (c) 2007 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .