Mbabane: The government of Eswatini is condemning to the strongest terms the killing of women that is being reported almost daily more especially at this time when the country and the world at large is celebrating the women’s month.
In a statement issued by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Makhosini Mndawe, government noted that as the world grapples with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impact in the society in particular women, the pandemic of femicide and gender-based violence against women is also raging on and claiming the lives of women and girls in the country.
“It is very saddening to note that these incidents of femicide and GBV are sharply increasing, the resultant effect are single and double orphaned children,” reads the statement.
The government has describe these act of killing women as heinous acts and a gross act against humanity. Violence against women and girls is violence against the whole humankind and should not be tolerated in Eswatini and anywhere else.
The government further calls upon the nation to take urgent steps to prevent the perpetration of femicide or gender related killings, and gender-based violence from continuing any further. It is the responsibility of every citizen of this nation to protect one another, our women and children against this act of violence. We continue to urge and encourage EmaSwati who may be in need of psycho-social support to seek help from appropriate structures, both in public and private and to desist from engaging in violent and criminal behaviour.
This comes after the country has been lately waking up to the news where a man has killed a woman and such news have been reported almost daily.
One particular incident of GBV that shattered the nation was that of a nurse who was allegedly stabbed by his husband early this month. This incident saw a group of nurses picketing against GBV, particularly targeting Mpendulo Nhleko, who is accused of killing the nurse by the name of Londiwe Dlakubi.
Another incident that shook the nation was that of a police officer who shot his ‘baby mama’ and her uncle just outside the Simunye Magistrate court. The police officer shot the two after a child maintenance case. This incident took place on March 10, 2021.
On March 18, the Times of Eswatini reported about a man who strangled the mother of his two children.
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