JAMES HALL MBABANE – A powerful new political party “unbanned” itself this week, and topping its agenda is a crackdown on South African businesses that dominate Swaziland’s economy. Some of the biggest firms in the road and air transport sector are South African owned. Sive Siyinqaba – the name is taken from the national slogan, which means “We are a fortress” – was founded by conservatives and supporters of the royal government in 1997, but decided to cast aside all pretence that it didn't have political ambitions. Political parties are banned in Swaziland, but the new party’s leadership feels confident that at some point members will be able to compete in parliamentary elections. The next election is scheduled for 2008. The group has several members who are already MPs. Given the group’s high profile membership, its talk of protectionism and the nationalising of foreign businesses is being taken seriously by the business community. “This is the time to attract more foreign direct investment, not to scare it away,” said a manager of one Matsapha-based road transport firm. South African-owned road transport firms preferred to reserve public comment, but some managers dismissed the new political party’s anti-foreign business rhetoric as populist political posturing.
