- According to Amnesty International, political activism has been consistently suppressed in the kingdom due to repressive laws
- PM Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku claimed that the legitimate protests had been “hijacked by criminal elements.”
- South Africa’s department of international relations and cooperation said it noted “with great concern the ongoing political and security situation” in Eswatini.
Mbabane: According to the latest information from an activist on the ground, above 60 people have lost their lives in the current unrest around the country.
These figures have been confirmed by the people who are behind the protest marches that were a result of three Members of Parliament who advocated for the change.
These MPs are Mduduzi Simelane from Siphofaneni, Bacede Mabuza from Hosea, and Mthandeni Dube from Ngwemphisi.
The organizer has put up a cellphone number where they encourage people to call and report death related to the protest.
Surprisingly the government of Eswatini through the Minister of Foreign affairs Thuli Dladla has disputed the figures and stated clearly that according to the information they have only 27 people have already died as of 1 pm on Sunday on the 4th of July.
This report was also given to the SADC Troika delegation which was in the country on a fact-finding mission.
The Minister said amongst those who were reported killed was a child who died while with his mother in a shop that was looted.
There is total unrest around the country as more people are killed for no reason whatsoever. “We are being shot by the soldiers here in Matsapha, once you travel in groups, the soldiers’ shots direct to everyone on the street without saying anything, “ said one Sabelo Simelane in Matsapha.
Matsapha is one of the biggest industrial sites in Eswatini situated less than 10 km from Manzini and 25km to Mbabane the capital city.
Eswatini has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew from 6 pm to 5 am every day. The military and police were deployed, which resulted in violent clashes between authorities and protesters.
According to Amnesty International, political activism has been consistently suppressed in the kingdom due to repressive laws. These laws include the 1938 Sedition and subversive activities Act (SSA Acts) and the 2008 suppression of Terrorism Act (STA).
Political parties were banned in 1973. Moreover, the current status of political parties is unclear under the 2006 constitution.
The government of Eswatini has responded and denied that all the people who have died were the result of soldiers. The Minister of foreign affairs Thuli Dladla alleged that some people were shot by business owners who were trying to protect their business entities.
Negotiated peace
The South African government has urged calm and restraint in Eswatini, which has been engulfed by pro-democracy protests this past week amid growing reports of state violence against demonstrators.
Protesters are demanding democratic reforms and accuse King Mswati III, who has ruled the tiny mountain kingdom for more than 30 years as an absolute monarch, of repression.
Rights groups accuse the royal family, including the king’s 15 wives, of enjoying a lavish lifestyle while many of the country’s 1.1 million people live in poverty.
Mbabane and Manzini, the largest city, have reportedly been the most affected by the protests, which have seen demonstrators barricading roads and setting fires, often at businesses owned or linked to the royal family.
Businesses, factories, and trucks have also been reportedly burned in the industrial town of Matsapha.
The government has imposed a nightly curfew from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. to try to quell the demonstrations.
Photographs and videos on social media show soldiers assaulting people believed to be protesters.
Activists have alleged that soldiers and police have killed more than 60 protesters since the protests began this week, but this has not been confirmed by police, government officials, or health workers.
Legitimate protest hijacked
Acting prime minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku claimed that the legitimate protests had been “hijacked by criminal elements.”
In a statement last week Thursday, South Africa’s department of international relations and cooperation said it noted “with great concern the ongoing political and security situation” in Eswatini.
“We are particularly concerned by reports of loss of life and destruction of properties. The right to peaceful protest is universally recognized,” said spokesman Clayson Monyela.
He called on Eswatini’s security forces to “exercise total restraint and protect the lives and property of the people”.
The protesters are demanding reforms that include lifting bans on opposition political parties, which have been outlawed since 1973.
Brian Sangweni, the spokesperson of the People democratic movement (PUDEMO) which is involved in the demonstrations, hoped that now that the SADC Troika was in the country on Sunday, negotiations can start soon.
He said as PUDEMO they are ready to go to the table with the government to negotiate the power. “ We are not going and will never negotiate freedom with the current regime. Freedom is our right and we will demand it” he said.
Mr. Sangweni continues to say all that was happening in the country, the killing of innocent young people and children is all blamed on the government.
He said the people were innocently delivering petitions to their various Tinkhundla centers where all of a sudden government stopped them.
He said if the government didn’t stop the youth from exercising their constitutional rights none of the scenes of the current on social media and the killings, looting, and destruction of properties will ever happen.
“As PUDEMO we are standing ready to go to the table anytime so that the people of Swaziland can be free,” he said in a telephone interview with the Independent News.
He then urges the African Union and SADC to call King Mswati lll to order.“We urge you to call Mswati to order.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, which has historical ties to Swaziland stretching from that country’s support for its liberation struggle, has criticized the government for violence against demonstrators.
“The use of security forces to quell political dissent and the failure to address legitimate civilian concerns complicates the conflict and adds fuel to the fire,” said ANC head of international relations Lindiwe Zulu.
The U.S. State Department on Thursday upgraded its travel alert for Eswatini to warn Americans against any travel to the country and announced it would allow non-essential American diplomats and their families to leave due to the deteriorating security situation there.
“Eswatini is experiencing dangerous civil unrest and protests across the country,” the department said, noting the imposition of a curfew, the closure of the international airport, and communications disruptions.
A day earlier, the department had urged Eswatini authorities “to exercise restraint and also maintain the utmost respect for human rights.”
“As the situation continues to unfold, the United States urges all stakeholders in this situation to not only remain calm but also remain peaceful,” deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters last Wednesday.
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