Security forces in
Swaziland (eSwatini) whipped a destitute woman as she desperately searched for food
for her three children during the present coronavirus lockdown.
She was one of hundreds
left without food or money as her job disappeared when King Mswati III, the
absolute monarch of Swaziland, demanded the kingdom partially closedown.
The eSwatini News
(the Saturday edition of the Times of eSwatini) reported that hunger was
widespread in the Kwaluseni township because people who worked in the nearby
industrial town of Matsapha had been put out of work. Many worked in Taiwanese-owned
textile factories.
It reported, ‘Some
residents walk about in search of green edible weed (imbuya) just to live
another day.’
It added, ‘The residents
said their desperation had been worsened by security forces’ tough stance on
enforcing the stay at home regulation.’
The News reported, ‘Gabsile
Simelane, who alleged that she took lashes by a sjambok from the security
forces, said she felt the government had abandoned them.
‘“I went to ask for food
from a relative and the security forces found me at Eteni and asked me why I
was not at home. I explained my situation but they did not listen and gave me
three strokes with a sjambok before sending me back home. That day me and my
three children ate nothing,” she alleged.’
Mpumelelo Gumedze who sells
roasted chicken by the roadside was forced to close his business. ‘Gumedze also
alleged that he was brutally assaulted by the security forces on Monday evening
when he went to meet a cousin,’ the newspaper reported.
On Wednesday (15 April
2020) Swazi Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini endorsed police beating people during
the coronavirus lockdown. He told a press briefing, ‘If you are
found to be violating these regulations, the law will definitely take its
course, we won’t compromise on this. Maybe those who were assaulted were found
to be on the wrong side of the law by breaking the regulations put in place by
government. We would like to encourage members of the public to abide by these
regulations, there shouldn’t a need for the law enforcement to force you to
respect these regulations.’
There have been many reports of police, army and correctional service personnel beating people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown which started on 27 March 2020.
There have been many reports of police, army and correctional service personnel beating people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown which started on 27 March 2020.
Last week Mbabane lawyer Sabelo
‘Mngo’ Mngomezulu was left with broken ribs after soldiers assaulted him,
two women were whipped with sticks by police and a man was hospitalised after
police beat him about the head with a baton.
Previously, an
85-year-old woman collapsed and died when security forces raided her home
because they thought she was selling alcohol.
Armed military police officers also forced members of
the public to do press-ups when they were found at a bus rank in Manzini during
the coronavirus lockdown.
Some businesses had claimed they were being asked to pay
bribes to police and army in order to remain open.
Police were also reportedly
stopping people on the streets of Mbabane and demanding proof of residence.
See also
More reports of police and army violence against civilians as Swaziland coronavirus lockdown continues
More reports of police and army violence against civilians as Swaziland coronavirus lockdown continues
Swaziland
armed police, army intimidate people to obey coronavirus lockdown. Woman, 85,
dies
King
puts Swaziland into partial lockdown in bid to beat coronavirus. Army and
police on standby
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