No Cabinet minister against dialogue -

Acting Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku yesterday denied that there was an order made on unleashing security officers on the people of Eswatini.

during these petition deliveries which also compelled government to ban them as we also have the responsibility to protect life,” said Masuku. Masuku further told senators that the banning of petition deliveries was not a way to mute the voices of emaSwati, but government was compelled by her responsibility to protect rights of children.

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Meanwhile, Senator Isaac Mmemo Magagula wanted to know from the acting PM if it was true that the security forces were unleashed on emaSwati during the June/July 2021 unrest and also if it was true that the ‘shoot to kill order’ was made by government.

The acting PM in his response to Senator Magagula rubbished the claims that an order was made to unleash security officers to shoot to kill emaSwati during last year’s political unrest.

“Police have a duty to protect life, property and the country and the narrative that someone had made an order to kill is very wrong.

“Police are not enemies but our children, your brothers and it is the responsibility of every liSwati to talk and engage

- Government Spokesperson, Alpheous Nxumalo has come out to say that there is no Cabinet minister who is against a constitutional dialogue.

Government had issued a statement, yesterday after circulating social media reports insinuating that there were some Cabinet ministers who do not support the idea of a national dialogue. “Government wishes to categorically state that all Cabinet ministers are in full support of a national dialogue which is provided for in the national Constitution.

“Cabinet as a whole fully understands and appreciates that dialogue is critical for the healing of our country,” reads the statement. Nxumalo further with them.

“That narrative that said they were ordered to shoot and kill is foreign,” he added.

Masuku further pointed out that everyone was now threatened and once you spoke something different from another person’s opinion, then it was a huge possibility that your home would be invaded and one would be brutally tortured then assassinated.

He then disclosed to the senators that support was being directed to the different security forces by government to assist them handle the current situation.

ThreaTs

Senator Mkhululi Dlamini in the same motion stated that the issue of security threats were raised to the PM imploring his office to find out the complaints of people who were alleging that their relatives were killed by cops.

“We also did the same on the killing of the cops and also on that one which made them to march to the PM and thereafter they went to the ex-NATCOM, Senator Isaac Magagula’s home.

“We are asking the PM again, what is wrong with the country’s security,” he asked.

Another, Senator Prince Mshengu, stated that the solution lied with emaSwati and that they were the ones who should first handle the matter of the security threat in their various communities.

Meanwhile, Senator Alberto pointed out that Cabinet ministers have always maintained one position, which is that law and order must be completely restored in the country and for a peaceful environment to prevail in order to have a productive dialogue, free of intimidation.

ImporTanT

“This is important because the nation cannot have a free and fair national dialogue while people who are holding one view or the other are being threatened with violence, intimidation and other victimisation methods,” further reads the statement.

Nxumalo stated that Cabinet believes that the national dialogue has to come and it will come but the prelude to it is that the nation needs a window of