Swaziland
Newsletter No. 728 – 27 May 2022
News from and about Swaziland, compiled by Global
Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk)
in collaboration with Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com),
and sent to all with an interest in Swaziland - free of charge.
Divergent
views on forces driving push for change in eSwatini
By
Karabo Ngoepe, Independent Online (South Africa), 22
May 2022
Johannesburg - The situation in eSwatini appears to differ
based on who you speak to. Some say the protests will continue and not cease
until King Mswati has been removed from power, while others believe calls for
him to step aside are dying down in anticipation of a forthcoming national
dialogue.
People's United Democratic Movement secretary-general
Wandile Dluldlu said emaSwati continued to call for democracy in the kingdom
despite the authorities' failure to listen to them.
"People want change, but Mswati doesn't want to
listen. We will continue with the protests until he does," Dludlu said.
He refuted claims that the protests were funded by
outsiders with vested interests in the country's resources.
"There have always been those lies. If some want
to support our calls, that is great. But this is a Swati struggle and it is not
cooked somewhere," he said.
Journalist Alec Lushaba said pro-democracy protests
were no longer so intense. Instead, emaSwati “were looking forward to the
Sibaya national dialogue”.
"Precautions in logistics for (the national
dialogue) have begun, and a committee chaired by Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho
Dlamini is looking into it. The situation has improved, even though we still
experience a few cases of arson on both public and individual properties,"
he said.
Lushaba added that there appeared to be divisions
within the ranks of those calling for change. Some were in favour of dialogue,
while others wanted to pursue violent means to attain their ends.
"In recent weeks, divisions have been pronounced
within those forces. We hope the national dialogue will give us a clear
direction regarding what emaSwati want. It will not be a referendum, but the
sentiments will give the authorities direction on what emaSwati want," he
said.
Lushaba, who has also written about “foreign forces”
in the protests, has indicated that divisions among the players were emerging
due to people questioning who controls everything.
"It would seem much of the differences within the
pro-democracy groups emanates from such funding and who controls it. They say
who pays the piper calls the tune.
“One would say it was good that authorities took their
time to address the issue, so that we all can crystallise the nature of our
issues and the underlying foreign interests.
“At least now we seem to have some sense of what we
are confronted with. While some of the presented issues were genuine, like high
levels of youth unemployment and increased consumer prices, many of them cannot
be solved by what is proposed," he said.
Other journalists in the country have shared harrowing
stories of being targeted, claiming persons had been paid R15 000 for carrying
out arson attacks on them. They said they were now living in fear and afraid to
write stories criticising pro-democracy groups.
Locals also appear to have caught wind of the alleged
funding of the protests. A Swati national based in Manzini, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said there were currently contradictions between the
different political parties concerning a way forward.
She said the different ideologies among the parties
were due to some of them supporting the dialogue, which would entail a
"peaceful" removal of the king, and some advocating for the use of
force, as they were convinced that the time for peace had long elapsed for the
monarch.
The person said she had heard of the mumblings but
wasn't sure how true they were.
"If such is true, I believe such individuals or
groups shall distance themselves from such. I believe such acts are indirect
‘bribes’, since such organisations have a particular plan they are trying to accomplish.
“It may happen that those on the receiving (end) are
not aware of such. To them, they see it as a genuine act, yet in the end you
find it harms the struggle, thus disempowering fellow Swazis in their call for
a democratic eSwatini," she said.
Soldiers will deal with those who want to take
power - King’s spokesperson Percy
By Eugene Dube, Swati Newsweek 25 May, 2022
MBABANE - As the Mswati
regime perishes like snow on a sunny day, Percy Simelane the veteran king's
propagandist continues to intimidate Swazis.
A South African publication
the Sunday Independent revealed that there are Swazis who want greater
political and economic freedoms.
In an interview with the Sunday
Independent Simelane sounded annoyed and vowed that such an effort will be
crushed. New war machinery has been seen getting into the country driven by
state security men.
Simelane added, “We take
the threats of destabilising eSwatini by power and mineral sharks with the
seriousness they deserve. If need be, we shall defend our country until the
last atom of our strength from all assigned commandos.”
Simelane scooped a top post
as Director of Communications for the King’s Office.
Simelane, said the UN and
the AU were required to deal decisively with elements hell-bent on causing
anarchy in the country.
The king's man was quoted
as saying, "Simelane said: "The United Nations and African Union have
to come out of their slumber and whip into line member states that have become
springboards for dismantling peace and stability in other countries such as
eSwatini.
Simelane officially retired
from his position as Government Press Secretary in February 2020.
However, he was recalled
this year as he is highly influential propagandist who hides the dark secrets
of the Swazi monarchy.
Eswatini has invested
heavily in the army and its propaganda machinery in a bid to dismantle the new
generation demanding greater political and economic freedoms.
Two thirds of girls encounter sexual harassment
Reader’s letter to the editor, Times of eSwatni,
24 May 2022
We have a
serious problem as females in this country. Young and old are victims of sexual
abuse and harassment and too many people have come to accept it because they
believe they are powerless. They live with the trauma and shame.
Sadly, poverty
and deprivation continue and enable more men to take advantage of women because
they seemingly acquiescence their actions as mutual exchange. Unfortunately,
far too many women are disadvantaged from the onset due to lack of basic needs
and as a result they are exploited by opportunistic men who initiate younger
girls to sexual activities.
Of course, many
men will deny that they ever participated in such predatory crimes, but
statistics say otherwise. Some of these men claim to be family men of good
standing and are religious. This is all a ruse, as you scratch the surface.
Girls who experience these atrocities become damaged as adults and are unable
to make connections between normal and exploitative relationships; so they
become properties to be used and discarded.
Of course,
there are many men who do not see any harm in this but none of them would wish
this to happen to their own children. Weak sanctions against perpetrators have
been identified as being contributing factors. Two thirds of girls in Eswatini
have encountered sexual harassment or violence many times over. So the less
privileged the woman is, the more likelihood of sexual harassment. They say the
number is far higher than reported because this crime is mostly under reported
simply because it has become commonplace and no one takes it seriously. In most
cases the woman is blamed as the instigator.
Seemingly, the
police are ill-equipped to deal with such sensitive issues and to make matters
worse, such cases fail to make it to the courts. But if by some fluke they do,
a lenient sentence that does not fit the crime is pronounced. Our society and
government have not taken this pandemic seriously, yet this crime rests heavily
on society. It affects people mentally, physically and financially. It is no
exaggeration but a fact.
Eswatini women
dearly deserve a shift and a reduction of the damming and high rate statistics
of sexual violence and assaults. Government should provide opportunities for
women and girls. A compulsory education or training for women to break the
cycle of poverty and dependence, in particular to help and support women gain
independence and confidence, is needed. Men who harass women should be
investigated and removed from society if found guilty.
If a woman
experiences any form of sexual harassment, it is not your fault, speak to
somebody you know and trust about your experience. Do not keep it a secret to
protect perpetrators. Your life matters and you are stronger than you think and
you will survive this. No one deserves your silence to deal with your pain,
while they continue to commit the same crime over and over again. Being polite
does not mean you have to be subservient and no one should make you feel
uncomfortable. If you don’t give consent, then the person is abusing or
harassing you. That is not acceptable.
Be aware of
your surroundings and trust your guts. If you feel uncomfortable, make an
excuse and leave. Be emotionally strong and know yourself. Proper men stand up
for women; not what we see lately in this country.
Colleen
Matsebula
Catholic peace entity says eSwatini still
too hostile for meaningful dialogue
By Agnes Aineah, ACI Africa, 21 May 2022
Locals in Eswatini have expressed their
dissatisfaction about the preparation for dialogue in the Southern African
nation, with some telling Catholic charity foundation, Denis
Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI), that the
country is still too hostile for any meaningful dialogue to end the ongoing
protests.
In a Thursday, May 19 report, DHPI says
that authorities in Eswatini that has been experiencing unrests amid calls for
democracy “have yet to show they are serious about dialogue”
“As the nation continues to await the
National Dialogue (Sibaya) almost six months into the year, many are still in
the dark as to whether it will eventually happen, and if it indeed happens,
what form it will take,” DHPI says.
In the absolute monarchy, a Sibaya is an
annual meeting of the nation, billed by the government as the “People’s
Parliament”, that is held in the royal kraal at one of the residences of the
king.
According to DHPI, the absence of
pro-democracy leaders who are still under military detention in the country
thwart efforts to foster dialogue.
“The environment in which the dialogue
will be held is still hostile,” DHPI says, and adds, “Some of the leaders of
the pro-democracy movement are still in jail and others in exile and there are
still laws, practices and conduct by mostly traditional leaders that make it
absolutely difficult for the people to participate.”
According to the peace entity of the Southern
African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), some locals in Eswatini are
of the feeling that they are being left out of the planning and inception
stages of the process.
Still, others feel that the drafting of
the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the proposed talks is not an inclusive
process.
“A large number of people have been
quite vociferous in their call for a political dialogue that will meet
international benchmarks and standards and be based on an equal basis and
mutually agreed terms of engagement where neither the king nor government have
the upper hand,” the SACBC entity that is researching the evolution of conflict
in Eswatini and in a number of other African countries says.
People who have spoken to the charity
entity maintain that the national dialogue in Eswatini should be about the
exchange of ideas among the different interest groups regarding a broad range
of national issues that will drive public policy and bring about the desired
national reforms.
“As it stands, it is not likely that the
dialogue will bring about the outcomes that will be binding because there will
be no instrument that enforces changes,” DHPI says.
The charity foundation has reported on
continued unrest in Eswatini, with locals warning that if unaddressed, violence in the country
signals “very worse times lying ahead”.
In a message that was shared with ACI
Africa last month, the peace
entity of SACBC described the situation in the Southern African country as “a
ticking time bomb” that signals “a looming civil war”.
The entity reported that since the
political unrest in June 2021, Eswatini has not been peaceful.
“People have been killed allegedly by
state securities, others have fled the country in fear of being killed, some
have been arrested and others have been displaced from their families.
Pro-Democracy organizations continue to put pressure on the authorities for
meaningful political reforms and the total unbanning of political parties,”
DHPI reported April 20.
The Catholic peace entity added, “On the
ground tensions continue unabated. The high numbers of arson attacks being
witnessed in the country on a daily basis are a ticking time bomb.”
Ground
forces kill soldier inside church at New Village, State deploys battalion of
police officers
By
Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 25 May 2022
MATSAPHA: Ground forces allegedly
invaded Prophet Qwabe’s church at Mahlabatsini(New Village) on Tuesday
night,shot and killed a member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF) amid
the abductions of civilians by Mswati’s soldiers.
Eswatini is in the midst of a political
unrest, the ongoing shooting and killing of peaceful protestors by security
forces resulted to the establishment of ground forces who are protecting the
civilians from Mswati’s brutality by targeting the police and soldiers.
The shooting of the soldier was
confirmed by the newly appointed female Commander of the Ground Forces when
speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday evening.
“It’s true, the forces went to Prophet
Qwabe’s church during a night service on Tuesday, after receiving information
that there was a soldier who was a member of the church,” said the Commander.
Reached for comments, Prophet Qwabe said
he was not part of the service on Tuesday night and promised to get more
details about the shooting before commenting.
“I was not there when it happened, I
will have to get more details before commenting”, said the Prophet.
The name of the soldier who was
allegedly shot by the Ground Forces is known to publication but cannot be
revealed for now pending some few remaining verifications.
Police Spokesperson Phindile Vilakati
had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
While this journalist was busy verifying
the story after receiving the information on Tuesday evening, on Wednesday
morning, a member of the public called this journalist and narrated a
corroborative version regarding the shooting.
“Editor, I am here at
Sigodvweni(Matsapha Police Station), police officers are taking guns. One of
the officers told me that they are preparing to shoot Solidarity Forces after
receiving information that the members of the forces are somewhere in Matsapha.
He said the Solidarity Forces shot a soldier. The police officers are driving
in a White Double Cab D4D,” said the member of the public.
On another note, the newly appointed
female Commander of the Ground Forces said they would escalate the shooting of
soldiers and the police after Mswati’s forces intensified the killing of
civilians and the abduction of human rights defenders.
“I have issued an order to members of
the Ground Forces to shoot any soldier or police officer so that these people
can understand that we are serious. The burning of their homes will continue
but we need to escalate the shooting and killing because they are also killing
the people”, said the Commander.
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