• Government shuts down internet amidst protests

By: Vitalio Angula

The government of Eswatini on Wednesday shut down the internet and suspended all social media sites as a response to sporadic incidences of violence, protests, and demonstrations that have engulfed the tiny Southern African Kingdom of over just 1.5 million over the past two years.

According to the Government Press Secretary of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Sabelo Dlamini, the incidents of violence on Wednesday were sparked by an intended protest march by members of the Public Sectors Associations who are demanding salary adjustments and increases from the government.

“The protest march had not received permission from the police in accordance with the Public Order Act, 2017”, Dlamini said.

In emailed responses to the PanAfrikanist online newspaper, Ndlamini explained that security forces were deployed on Wednesday to maintain peace and order after intelligence reports indicated serious threats to lives and property.

“We have had many incidences of the burning of schools and infrastructure across the country,” Dlamini said. He told the PanAfrikanist that health and community centres were also targeted.

Speaking to the PanAfrikanist on condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisal, a journalist in Eswatini said, the protests of the Public Sector Associations coincided with the court appearance of two pro-democracy Members of Parliament, Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.

The two are facing charges under the Terrorism Act for pro-democracy utterances and recently had charges of murder added.

President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers said the Press Secretary for government Sabelo Dlamini is lying regarding the number of casualties reported in the media.

She said a number of people have been killed and many more are missing since the protest took place. According to her more than one hundred people are missing and twenty-eight (28) are dead since the army cracked down on opponents of the Monarchy.

“There have been people who have been burnt alive, SADC has not done anything since Ramaphosa took over the security organ of the regional bloc and Namibia has been silent”, Mbongwa Dlamini said.

“We are imploring all SADC member states to pay attention to what is happening in Eswatini and bring attention to this humanitarian crisis happening in our country”, Sibongile Mazibuko said.

Eswatini has been in the midst of a humanitarian peace and conflict crisis since 12 October 2021.

Government spokesperson, Press Secretary Sabelo Dlamini said the protestors are exaggerating the extent of violence in a country that has one of the highest rates of poverty and inequality in the world.

Journalists on the ground have expressed their concerns over the government’s heavy-handed clampdown on pro-democracy protestors.

The protestors have said that they will continue to express dissatisfaction with Africa’s last absolute monarch and that they will continue to push for democratic reforms that allow citizens to have a greater say in how the kingdom is governed.