The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) is up in arms against President Mokgweetsi Masisi and is demanding that he “should apologize to the people of Swaziland” for his statement on the Eswatini crisis.
In an interview with the Sunday Standard yesterday (Saturday) SSN spokesperson Lucky Lukhele accused Masisi of “insulting the people of Swaziland” and dismissed his statement as “unfortunate buffoonery.”
In his statement on Friday as the Chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Masisi said the regional body noted “with concern the reports of violent disturbances in the Kingdom of Eswatini.”
The President of Botswana further stated that, “SADC also urges all stakeholders to channel their grievances through the established national structures, and the authorities to have an open national dialogue, in order to continue upholding the legacy of peace and stability that has characterised the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and the region at large. To facilitate this process, the SADC Organ Troika is to urgently dispatch a team of Ministers to Eswatini with a view to further encourage the Kingdom to find a lasting solution.”
Lukhele castigated Masisi for “insulting the people of Swaziland and accusing them of violence. The only people holding guns and the nation at ransom is the Swazi government and the royal family. His anger should be directed at them…..So can the president of Botswana issue an apology to the people of Swaziland.”
He said Masisi’s statement “embarrassed the entire citizenry of SADC… and he must not be surprised when the people of Swaziland through their leaders, political parties, trade union movement and civil society reject any intervention by SADC because they (SADC) have proven to be biased and on the side of the dictator.”
Protests erupted two months ago in Africa’s lone absolute monarchy as civilians took to the streets demanding constitutional reforms and the right to vote. However, they escalated following the death of one of the protesters amid accusations of brutality from security forces resulting in retail outlets and other buildings being set ablaze in Matsapha, a town in central Swaziland. As Africa’s last remaining monarch, King Mswati III exerts power over the country’s parliament and other tiers of government, while political parties are banned.
Lukhele said SSN wished to “register their disappointment with President Masisi’s statement because all the people of Swaziland have been doing since 1973 was demanding the unbanning of political parties, the unconditional return of all exiles, the release of all political prisoners including those that are out on bail and the establishment of a Constitutional Assembly that will lead the country for at least two years. One of its responsibilities would be to develop a new constitution which will usher in a new dispensation that will determine the future role of the royal family and the king, if any. We don’t believe that these demands are difficult and deserve the violence from the current king.”
He said “through the voice of the acting Prime Minister, of course instructed by the king, the army and the police were ordered to violently disperse and beat up” the pro-democracy protesters. He further stated that 50 civilians are estimated to have been killed by the security officers while 40 have been confirmed dead and 150 have been hospitalized…. For the President of Botswana to tell the whole world that only one person has died, we don’t know where he gets that figure from. … when the people responded, the only thing they had was their hands and stones. They cannot therefore be blamed by this useless body called SADC which has been silent all these years. We are saying to SADC, here is an opportunity presenting itself in its history of useless existence to say at east once in their lifetime they were proactive and resolved a situation.” He accused SADC of being an old boys club who protect each other instead of looking at the interests of regional citizens.
Meanwhile Eswatini officials have denied that the King has fled following the pro-democracy protests.
