Mswati hasn’t fled, says PM
MANZINI - The eSwatini government has denied reports that King Mswati III left the country to flee violent, pro-democracy protests.
SABC and Swaziland News had initially reported that the king fled after the protests erupted.
The protests, in which trucks were torched and looted, flared up several days ago after the monarchy and government issued a decree banning the delivery of petitions that called for democratic reforms, Swaziland News reported.
However, eSwatini government spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini said "the reports about the king fleeing are completely untrue and fake."
The army was reportedly deployed to areas of unrest on Monday night after trucks – some of them belonging to South African companies – were torched over the weekend and shops were looted in the rural town of Siphofaneni, the Times of Swaziland reported.
Meanwhilem protesters defied a curfew yesterday, taking to the streets in what activists say is a tipping point in Africa's last absolute monarchy.
Activists say eight people were killed in Manzini alone, with 28 critically injured.
The internet has also reportedly been shut down.
News24 could not reach the government of eSwatini for comment.
Protesters say the eSwatini government is using Covid-19 regulations to crack down on public demonstrations. Soldiers and military are patrolling the streets to enforce the regulations, and enforcing roadblocks.
Unverified mobile phone footage shows soldiers harassing people out on the streets during the day.
In the country's townships
and rural areas, soldiers have reportedly been going from house to house, dragging young people out of their homes and beating them.
"It looks like the army has been given a separate command," said Lucky Lukhele, spokesperson for the Swaziland Solidarity Network.
Pro-democracy opposition movement Pudemo said 47 protesters were detained by security officers.
The president of the EFF Swaziland, Nombulelo Motsa, was also detained, the EFF in South Africa said in a statement.
Defying the curfew, protesters have burned state- owned businesses linked to King Mswati III, such as eSwatini Beverages and the Southern Star trucking company.
"The anger now is well-channelled toward one person," said Lukhele.
On Tuesday, after some of the most violent protests the country has seen in recent years, Prime Minister Themba Masuku announced a curfew between 18:00 and 05:00. – NEWS24.