MBABANE - Eleven pro-democracy groups in Swaziland have formed a loose alliance following landmark talks earlier this week, according to a joint statement released on Saturday.
The united front includes the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions which recently mounted a general strike that paralysed the mountain kingdom for a week.
The announcement on Saturday of the "Kwaluseni Declaration" follows talks at the Kwaluseni campus of the University of Swaziland. It said the alliance had been formed to ensure the democratisation process in Swaziland was not reversed.
The organisations have been operating openly in defiance of the 23-year-old ban on political parties.
On Friday Deputy Prime Minister Sishayi Khumalo announced that the process of drafting a new consitution had now began and a Constitutional Review Council was to be formed soon.
All organisations, including unrecognised political groups, would be invited to sent a representative to the council.