This was resolved at FOCCISA Bi-monthly Assembly held in Swaziland this week. After the meeting, delegates signed a petition addressed to King Mswati 111 in which they raised their concerns, one being constitution making process.

Delegates from FOCCISA called upon the country’s leadership to carefully consider and address the concerns raised in the petition delivered to Prime Minister A. T. Dlamini during the march held on May 12.

`In respect of the process, it is our view that the process has not been democratic, transparent and inclusive as His Majesty should have been protected from being central to the proceedings of the leaders, ` the Church leaders said.

`The environment within which the constitution making process has taken place during a time when the King’s Proclamation to the nation of 1973, which severely limits among other issues freedom of expression and assembly, still pertains. In addition, there has been an attack on the rule of law and lack of fiscal discipline in part of the government, ` the meeting stated.

The Swaziland authorities have recently subjected to intense criticism for various civic organizations to restore democracy and the rule of law in this tiny Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

The Bi-Annual Assembly was attended by Church leaders from 10 countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe who signed the petition. FOCCISA is a coalition of all the National Councils of Churches in SADC and is also consists of members of both the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the World Council of Churches.