UN URGES INTERVENTION IN ESWATINI
THE UN is watching the clashes between security forces and demonstrators in the Kingdom of eswatini with keen interest.
Secretary-general António Guterres, in a statement through his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said he was following developments in eswatini “with increasing concern”, notably clashes between security forces and demonstrators that have led to deaths and injuries.
The Kingdom of eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is engulfed in violent protests pushing for democratic reforms. The protests started peacefully in Manzini on June 20, but turned violent on June 28 after acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku banned protests, citing Covid-19 regulations.
Pro-democracy protesters were calling for the right to choose the prime minister, as opposed to the prime minister being appointed by the king.
They also demanded that King Mswati III hand over power as the absolute monarch and allow democracy to prevail. Irate protesters torched government buildings and property linked to the king.
Masuku said the damages caused to government and private property was estimated to be 3 billion Emalangeni (about R3 billion) with more than 5000 jobs lost.
He said 10 Tinkhundla offices, traditional administrative subdivisions, were burnt.
The death toll after clashes between protesters and security forces was yet to be confirmed, but opposition parties put the figure at more than 60 deaths.
The People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) said more than 40 people were allegedly killed by the army on July 1 and another 29 were confirmed dead on July 2.
The parties said they sourced this information from leading hospitals in the country, and reported that more than 150 people were injured and hundreds others were still missing. The Swaziland Youth Congress said 47 people were confirmed dead.
Commerce Minister Manqoba Khumalo said 27 people were killed, according to media reports.
“The secretary-general (Guterres) underlines the importance of enabling all amaswati to exercise their civil and political rights peacefully and urges the security forces to exercise the utmost restraint,” Dujarric said.
He said Guterres reiterated his call on all stakeholders to refrain from violence and address their differences through inclusive and meaningful dialogue, and also welcomed efforts, led by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to find a solution to the current situation.
“The United Nations remains committed to working with the government and the people of eswatini, and all partners, to ensure a peaceful resolution,” he said.
Journalists covering the protests were allegedly tortured by security forces and mobile telecommunication companies were ordered to shut down the internet.
MTN said the eswatini Communication Commission issued directives to mobile operators to suspend access to social media and online platforms until otherwise informed.
The Swaziland Youth Congress said clear, decisive action was needed to avoid a humanitarian crisis. In South Africa, the EFF said the situation in eswatini called for immediate intervention and mediation.
The EFF recommended that former president Thabo Mbeki be sent to eswatini to help bring stability, stating that he had helped to resolve conflict in several African countries and in the Middle East.
The chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for the protection of lives and property.
He appealed to national stakeholders to display leadership and engage in constructive dialogue towards the amicable resolution of issues in the interest of peace and stability in eswatini.
The SADC sent a team of ministers on a fact-finding mission to eswatini. The team met members of the country’s government but did not meet other stakeholders owing to time constraints.
Chairperson of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi, said the team would be sent again to eswatini to meet other stakeholders.
He said the proposal for an open national dialogue in eswatini was welcomed as a way forward in finding a long-lasting solution in the country.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network said it would do everything in its power to ensure that King Mswati III faced justice. Spokesperson Lucky Lukhele appealed to the citizens of eswatini to help the network by providing concrete evidence to prosecute Mswati.
“We also urge the SADC, the AU and the UN to send a team of expert investigators who will be able to aid in these investigations. All foreign intelligence forces that are operational in the country are urged to help us convict this criminal despot,” he said in a statement.
“Due to the fact that all public statements can be used as evidence in the inevitable prosecution of the king, all of his skivvies have been ordered to parrot these offensive lies that a mysterious group of mercenaries entered the country undetected, killed 54 unarmed Swazis and then vanished into thin air, while the country’s heavily armed and trained security forces were watching and applauding or hiding and watching. This is a story that is not even worth refuting due to its ridiculousness,” Lukhele said. |
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