King Introduces Limited Democratisation
December 4518
Kgosi (King) Mohlabi has announced the introduction of a legislature - the first ever in the Kingdom. The King issued his much anticipated "Kgotla Decree" which empowers the traditional tribal council to make laws for the Kingdom. Its membership has also been expanded from 25 members to 65. The new members will be appointed from the major professional bodies and other public organisations. Political parties remain banned and the King shall retain the power to appoint all members and dissolve the body at will.
Kgosi Mohlabi
Batembo democrats have greeted the development with cautious optimism, calling on the King to go even further and allow full elections. They also reminded him that "Utembo was the cradle of democracy in Terra and the old kgoltas were fully participatory democratic bodies." The democrats are highly unlikely to realise their dreams anytime soon with all the disturbances in neighbouring Temania very much on Mohlabi's mind. The King has issued a statement of concern and sent his best wishes to "his friend", the Emperor Baldassare II.