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Corpses strewn in the streets, buildings engulfed in flames and soldiers with heavy hands captured on video flogging men, women and children. All of these ugly scenes explain how the pent-up anger and frustration over how despotic monarch Eswatini, King Mswati III, is ruling the country finally exploded this week.
The stench of burnt bodies hung in the air a short distance from the local Raleigh Fitkin Memorial hospital, said a resident of Mbekelweni, near Manzini, Eswatini’s second largest town.
“They probably used up the storage space [in morgues] for people who died after being admitted with gunshot wounds, ”she said.
Numerous commercial and government buildings, as well as trucks and ambulances, were set on fire in the capital Mbabane and other towns such as Manzini, Matsapa and Pig’s Peak during a week of unprecedented violence.
Shops were looted as pro-democracy protests were reportedly infiltrated by criminals. Amid this upheaval, there was no indication yesterday whether the Eswatini government and pro-democracy groups would be holding talks anytime soon.
There is no going back now because political and socio-economic struggles and popular frustrations have been simmering for some time. There’s no way we’ll go back to living our lives like we did before the uprising
Mlungisi Makhanya
Government spokesman Sabelo Dlamini said so far the focus was on “putting out the fire”.
“The challenge is that there is so much chaos that we have to deal with as we make sure services are provided and people are safe as we are on the verge of the third wave of the Covid pandemic- 19, “said Dlamini.
“An ambulance carrying patients to the hospital was set on fire by criminals who hijacked the protests. We cannot negotiate in this situation, ”said Dlamini.
Mswati has not shown his face and has not spoken to his people since the protests escalated on Tuesday. He relayed his messages through the military, which has been accused of indiscriminately shooting and assaulting protesters as they enforced a 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
WHERE IS THE KING?
The king was rumored to have left the country earlier this week, but acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku denied it. Mswati therefore probably took refuge in one of his luxurious palaces, from where he ordered his soldiers to quell the insurgency with lethal force. .
The Mswati government shut down the internet, but not before images and photos of some gruesome scenes made their way to the outside world.
Although Masuku denied that the government shut down the internet – claiming that the infrastructure had been vandalized – telecommunications giant MTN confirmed that it had been ordered to cut internet access by the Communications Commission of Eswatini.
LILY: The oppressive Eswatini regime should be overthrown by revolution
The Institute for Democracy and Leadership has since taken legal action to force the government and service providers to restore the Internet.
An estimated 75 protesters were shot dead by the military, while 150 were injured.
Residents believe the military dumped the bodies of scores of protesters at a brewery that was set on fire and other ravaged properties to cover up evidence and evade responsibility.
This week there were unconfirmed rumors that Mswati had roped up soldiers from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa to help quell the uprising.
However, Masuku said the military was only deployed to protect key national infrastructure.
PUSHING FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY
“A government that turns its arms against its people has no legitimacy and is not fit to govern,” said the exiled President of the United People’s Democratic Movement (Pudemo), Mlungisi Makhanya.
“There is no turning back now because the political and socio-economic struggles and the frustrations of the population have been simmering for some time. There is no way we will go back to living our lives the way we did before the uprising, ”Makhanya promised.
Pro-democracy groups across the country shared Makhanya’s sentiments and were adamant that they would not back down.
Nombulelo Motsa, President Eswatini of EFF, said the ultimate goal of the protests was to move the country to a multi-party democracy.
“Too many people have died [for us] to surrender now, ”Motsa said.
Mswati’s father, King Sobhuza II, banned political parties in 1973, a proclamation that has not been repealed.
Makhanya said the ball was in the government’s court to start negotiations, but that would not happen with soldiers terrorizing people and shutting down the internet.
ROYAL EXTRAVAGANCE AND POMPOSITY
The protests were sparked by several issues that prompted three outspoken MPs – Bacede Mabuza, Mthandeni Dube and Eric Simelane – to demand that the prime minister of the kingdom be elected by the people.
They also complained about injustices in the country that have driven them away from their constituencies.
We will not tolerate looting, arson, violence and all other forms of crime that target businesses and people’s property. We had to call on the military to protect critical national infrastructure and enforce Covid-19 regulations. There was no declared martial law
Masuku
Former Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini died after contracting Covid-19 in December. The king’s extravagant spending and ostentatious display of his children’s wealth on social media platforms amid the economic hardships caused by the pandemic have pushed pro-democracy groups into action.
Citizens watched the obscene spending as the government froze pay increases and scholarships.
When pro-democracy groups wanted to ask parliament to demand the election of a prime minister and the resolution of other service delivery issues, the lifting of the ban on political parties and constitutional reforms, Masuku said brought the country to lock level 2.
This has been interpreted by activists as a ruse to prevent people from petitioning their MPs about their demands.
Following a standoff that lasted for weeks between police, officials and pro-democracy organizations, in which the police subjected them to excessive violence, the people decided that was enough.
The protests started in Mbabane Est before spreading like wildfire to other towns in the country.
The army has stepped up its brutality.
Masuku said, “The government has stepped up security to restore the rule of law and peace, and to protect all Emaswati.
“We will not tolerate looting, arson, violence and all other forms of crime that target businesses and people’s property. We had to call on the military to protect critical national infrastructure and enforce Covid-19 regulations. There was no declared martial law, ”Masuku said.
Regarding the killings of civilians, he said: “The Prime Minister’s office has yet to receive official reports on the suspected deaths due to the riots. We will investigate these allegations.
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