Rural Women’s Assembly petitions

DISGRUNTLED:

The assembly did not hide their displeasure in the way GVB cases were handled by the police, alleging that some of the perpetrators were accorded special treatment and not held accountable for their actions.

MBABANE – It is no longer a laughing matter. Members of the Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly (Sicandvulo Sabomake) yesterday petitioned Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane with seven demands, one of which is the immediate establishment of a family court, solely to address the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

Carrying placards with messages speaking strongly against the alarming rate of GBV cases currently engulfing the kingdom, the members marched from the Mbabane Bus Rank to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to deliver the petition, which was received by Bonginkosi Fakudze (Planning Officer) and Gabsile Ntuli, who is the Senior Legal Aid Officer.

Before delivering the petition in the presence members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the assembly led by their national Chairperson Lonhlanhla Mthethwa and Secretary General Nonhlanhla Magagula did not hide their displeasure at the way GBV cases were handled by REPS, alleging that some of the violence perpetrators were accorded special treatment and not held accountable for their actions by law enforcers. The organisation is also appealing against the easy access of bail for GBV and femicide perpetrators.

AlArming

“We, the Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly are deeply concerned about the alarming rate of gender-based violence incidents currently engulfing the country. Women have been brutally murdered, abused, harassed and some assaulted viciously while their perpetrators roamed the streets freely. Women have increasingly become victims if not walking zombies for anyone who feels the need to test their powers. As a women’s organisation, which is advocating for the welfare and rights of all women in Eswatini, we feel this has reached a point where your ministry needs to take emergency means to address this calamity,” reads the petition in part.

While making it clear that they highly condemned the killings and brutalisation of women in its strongest terms, they also registered their displeasure at the ‘easy’ bail granted to murders.

The assembly also spared no mercy for REPS, accusing the law enforcers of being friends with some of the alleged perpetrators of domestic violence.

Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly Secretary General Nonhlanhla Magagula making an address before delivering the petition to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutiona Affairs officials while police officers, watch closely. (RIGHT PIC) Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly members waiting to deliver the petition with seven demands to the minister.

(Pics: Sabelo Ndzinisa) Ministry of Justice Senior Legal Aid Officer Gabsile Ntuli, addressing the marchers after receiving the petition and promising to hand it over to her superiors.