Eswatini (erstwhile Swaziland) continues to grapple with it’s destiny through a tug of war between pro democracy protestors and Africa’s last remaining Monarch King Mswati III who has been ruling the country for over 3 decades now. Pro democracy protests exploded all across the country after an Eswatini law student Thabani Nkomonye was allegedly shot dead by the Police.
Experts believe the alleged murder of the student is just an immediate trigger to the unrest that was brewing subsurface for years now. Years of mis-governance, massive expenditure on state opulence, a political system devoid of space for opposition parties has manifested into a civil and economic crisis for the African nation. All this has culminated into a situation where citizens have stepped out of their homes and are demonstrating on roads to demand a government elected by the people, for the people and responsible to the people.
As per the latest development, amidst allegations of brutal repression of the popular protest, King Mswati III has appointed former Pension fund incharge Cleopas Dlamini as the new Prime Minister of the Nation. Eswatini Government has called on parties to abandon protests and engage in dialogue. The week long investigation by regional block Southern African Development Community (SADC) too got over on Thursday. Investigative team met the representatives of Civil Society and Government. While the detailed observation is yet awaited The Voices continues to explore the shades of the crisis.
In the first part of the series on developments in the landlocked nation The Voices Interviewed Human Rights Activist Melusi Simelane.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d06OvPNcGs8
In the second part of the series The Voices aims to dive deep into the understanding of the movement through stakeholders in the conflict. Here, The Voices interviews Sphelele Nkomondze, Spokesperson – Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland. The grouping is a prominent voice amongst many who are opposing the current regime.
Ques: What is the stance of your organisation on the recent developments in Eswatini?
Our stance from what’s happening is clear and straightforward we want a New Democratic state with multiparty democracy. We are calling for the current government of King Mswati III to revoke the ban on all political parties and further order all security forces, that is the army and police who have been on a killing spree of poor Swazis who are protesting for their rights.
Ques: What is the vision of your organisation?
Our vision as EFF Swaziland is Multiparty democracy. It is that of a free democratic society where all citizens have equal rights and to be involved in building of the Swaziland economy. The people of Swaziland must have a right elect their own government through voting which is something we are not currently entitled to as Swazis because political parties remain banned.
Ques: What have been the major demands of your organisation?
The major demands is that as there is no free political activity in the country due to the aforementioned problem of political parties being banned to freely participate in the society our organization wants this to be remedied first. Political activists face arrests and and also killed for the participation in politics. Many more have been murdered by the state military since the protests for a democratic government. The death toll currently stands at over 40 citizens and over 200 people are reported injured badly in hospitals around the country.
Ques: What are the reasons which propel your grouping to think that the Eswatini’s potential for economic and social development is not being realised under the current monarchy? Any data you would like to confirm your stance with?
Under the current government we have more than 60% of people living under the poverty line. Swazis are living in dire poverty situation while those in power of the monarch are living a luxurious lifestyle at the expense of poor Swazi citizens. The country stands at 50% unemployment rate and the most affected group here is the youth. Thousands and thousands of graduates still remain unemployed. There is a quite endless list of socio economic problems that are multiplying under the current government of King Mswati henceforth we see the need to elect a people’s government that will be accountable to the people of Swaziland.
Ques: How the leadership of Eswatini has responded to the resentment and popular will?
In response to all the protests from Swazi citizens the government has been unleashing the wrath of security forces to silence protesters and further force the people to be quiet so as to display to the outside international community that the country is peaceful. This is evident as even in the recent protests the government has once again unleashed the army and police to shoot and kill a number of unarmed protesting Swazi citizens.
But we as EFF SWAZILAND call each and every Swazi citizen to not lose spirit from what’s happening in the country it is now that we should stand firm and push forward for the liberation of Swaziland. Let us do this for the already fallen comrades who were fighting for the freedom of our country. Let us pick the batons and Continue the fight, victory is certain.
Interview by NK Jha
Edited by: Raghujit S. Randhawa