Mbabane: Women rights groups who participated in a demonstration against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at Solanis Shisanyama have all agreed that they will not rest until they see Solanis boss Manchester ‘Chester’ Nxumalo arrested.
The groups include Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations (CANGO), 1Billion Raising, Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA), Liphimbo Labo Make, Men Engage, Women’s Movement, Swaziland Rural Assembly. Female students from Limkokwing University of Technology (LUCT) and others.
These groups gathered outside Solanis premises where they all made their submissions and they were all in one accord that they want Chester to be arrested. They said for him to hand over himself to the police was not enough but they want him arrested and charged.
Nxumalo was seen in a video clip that circulated on all social media platforms a couple of days ago, allegedly assaulting a female patron. He was seen kicking the patron and setting his foot over her while she was lying on the ground.
CANGO Executive Director Emmanuel Ndlangamandla urged men to play their part in the fight against GBV. He said hands should not be used to assault but should be used as hands of love. “This is a hand of love not a hand of violence,” said Ndlangamandla.
Ndlangamandla urged police to take action and bring all perpetrators of GBV to justice as they are ruining the livelihoods of Emaswati women.
SWAGAA Programs Director Hlobsile Dlamini said everyone should play a part in protecting one another. She said society should not take it easy to watch a person being assaulted or even killed. She said even the one who captured the video clip and those who were around watching were supposed to play their part not just watch the women being assaulted. She said the law should take its course. She said one problem faced in this country is that culprits often get away with whatever crimes they did. “We call upon each and every citizen to fight abuse against women and children,” said Dlamini.
Liphimbo LaboMake communications Officer Nonhlanhla Dlamini who was also facilitating the demonstration said she appreciates the one who captured the video because if it was not for it, the nation would not know what transpired at Solanis. She said it would have been kept under carpets as the place is protected with rights of admission.
MenEngage representative emphasized that men should play their part in the fight against gender-based violence. He said what hurts the most that in the video there were men but they neither said nor do anything but only a female was heard condemning what the accused person was doing.
He said men do not need to abuse and not abusing does not make one a better man, but it is what a man needs to do. “It is a basic rule for every man not to abuse.”
1Billion Raising Director Xolani Hlatjwako challenged police who were also present, that once the accused persons had handed themselves over to the police, they should be arrested. She said it was not enough that they handed themselves over but justice should prevail.
Hlatjwako said there are so many cases of people who hand over themselves to police and it has become a norm but it’s high time the accused person gets arrested. She said they want to see the accused Solanis boss arrested. She said they stand in solidarity to boycott Solanis until the accused boss gets arrested and charged.
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