Pulpit weaponised against political activists
THE so-called national prayers, under the auspices of the Christian faith, conveniently disowned by the national Constitution as the national religion of emaSwati, have of late morphed into something resembling political rallies whose priority objectives include demonising proponents of multiparty democracy while defending and validating the obtaining political hegemony and not, as would be the natural expectation, the exaltation of and worshipping God. And those pastors – or whatever they have chosen to call themselves lately – favoured with being selected to preach on the day are known to maximise on this opportunity, by pillorying and maligning socalled enemies of the State, to position themselves for possible upward mobility and appointments to positions of power and influence. And they indeed are rewarded periodically for their loyalty – of course not to God – and their so-called patriotism.
Weaponisation
As I see it, this weaponisation of the pulpit – following closely to the successful weaponisation of culture – was manifest during the Easter weekend services where the Chairperson of the African League of Churches, which is conclusively an appendage of the Tinkhundla Political System, Bishop Samson Hlatjwako, unashamedly launched a frontal assault in his sermon against some pastors gravitating the seat of power, whom he accused of siding with political enemies of the State.
This was during the Easter Sunday service at Somhlolo National Stadium when he should have been preaching reconciliation and not retribution. Not surprisingly, there is a good number of Bishop Hlatjwako’s ilk who have been favoured with public positions in the numerous structures of the State, whose modus operandi is grovelling to authorities while besmirching, bad-mouthing and climbing on the shoulders of others for recognition driven by stomach politics.
Bishop Hlatjwako preached about some pastors who were out to overthrow government, yet they pretended to be on the side of the authorities. Significantly, also in attendance were Their Majesties, King Mswati III and the Queen Mother, as well as the visiting Zulu Monarch, Misuzulu kaZwelithini. Regrettably, this serves as confirmation of the extent to which emaSwati have been polarised from since the June 2021 protests calling for multiparty democracy that culminated with the killing of protestors by the security forces. But an attack such as the one Bishop Hlatjwako launched from the pulpit was previously unheard of happening, as it did, from the pulpit that is considered a sanctified space. This, however, is not surprising because nowadays the pulpit has been weaponised into a launch-pad of vitriol that is regularly spewed against those opposed to the Tinkhundla Political System and calling for a pluralistic body politic wherein respect for human rights shall be sacrosanct.
Foundation
While liberation theology can and is justifiable because it is erected on a foundation of social justice, freedom, equality before the law, empathy, et al, - as God had willed – there certainly is no apologia for using the church and the pulpit to discharge toxic ideology in support of denying people the practice of their inalienable fundamental human rights and liberties which are also enshrined in the national charter, the Constitution. Yet it has become fashionable during so-called national prayers to malign and pillory those compatriots advocating for human rights to be respected, a feat that can be achieved through multiparty democracy.
As I see it, weaponisation of the pulpit ought to be condemned in the strongest terms possible by anybody who call themselves Christians. Equally so, Christians ought to distance themselves from church leaders gravitating the seat of power for endorsing and supporting political oppression of the people in total disregard to the letter and spirit of the Constitution not to speak to the law of God. Not only are these Christian
church leaders in violation of the Constitution, but they have also tacitly supported the wanton killings of proponents of multiparty democracy during and post the June 2021 protests. At no stage did any of them condemn the mass killings and this silence translates to tacit support and approval. Yet, every Sunday they return to their churches to preach the gospel of Christ. Christians who continue to shelter and follow such leaders are just as guilty and not different to those who mowed down with gunfire unarmed and defenceless protestors. Their hands are dripping the blood of all the people whose lives were senselessly and prematurely ended for standing up to the tyranny of government to claim their God-given human rights and freedoms.
Why, even today a war of attrition is being waged against political activists under the cloak of darkness, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, where people profiled to be political activists are way-laid, abducted and taken to isolated spots where they are assaulted, tortured and left for dead. Some of the victims, such as former member of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), Brian Sihlongonyane, have survived and lived to tell about their gory experiences.
Another such victim in fact claimed to have reported to the police his nightmare experience at the hands of what he also believed were soldiers heavily camouflaged with balaclavas who had mounted a roadblock in one of the Mbabane townships. To his dismay, he claimed the police declined to take a statement and open a docket ostensibly because these peripatetic operations had been sanctioned. Of course the police routinely and perfunctorily deny such cases and so does the army. But this does not preclude the fact that these nocturnal attacks against political activists are happening in real time and not just a figment of imagination. Some of the victims are not as brave as Sihlongonyane to come out in the open and talk about their nightmare and life-threatening experiences owing to mortal fear and trauma.
Yet, some within the echelons of power talk of peace having returned to these shores when political activists are being hunted like animals with the tacit support of Christian church leaders and, by progression, their flocks. And on which side is God in this matrix, is the question they must ponder.