King Mswati under fire over remarks on arson
KING Mswati III, the ruler of eSwatini, has raised concerns about the increasing number of arson attacks aimed at properties belonging to high-profile supporters of the ruling regime.
Speaking at his annual dispersal of his regiments on Saturday, the king issued a barrage of threats to people involved in arson around the country, labelling them “Timphaka” – a pejorative term that compares one to an African wildcat.
It is still unclear who is behind the attacks, but the king made it clear that everything in the kingdom is his personal property. Therefore, any attacks on other people’s personal property are direct attacks against him.
Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) spokesperson Lucky Lukhele describes this part of the king’s speech as a “bizarre assertion” and called on international human rights organisations to put pressure on the kingdom’s government to name the people behind the attacks and provide concrete proof against them to prosecute them accordingly. hoodwink the world into believing he is under attack.”
Lukhele said the king had failed to provide for his 1.2 million subjects, most of whom live in abject poverty, and has chosen to enrich himself instead.
The People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) noted the king’s “outrageous remarks”.
Its secretary-general, Wandile Dludlu, said they were not surprised by the king’s utterances. Instead, Pudemo is developing a plan to assist eSwatini citizens in their fight for democracy.
“The people of eSwatini have finally resolved that the king’s system is unworkable and thus must completely be overthrown and replaced with a democratic system,” said Dludlu. “No amount of intimidation and threats by King Mswati will deter the people’s will for a democratic eSwatini,” he said.