Eswatini government goes after democracy advocates
With the King still in hiding the Estwatini government has openly declared war on democracy advocates after staging violent protests against the government.
No doubt the Kingdom is on the verge of collapse. Eswatini has been rocked with violent protests of late that have even come to UN attention. In the wake of these protests, the government of Eswatini has seen itself trending for the wrong reasons.
However, it has been established that warrants of arrest have been issued against two members of parliament at Eswatini, Bacede Mabuza and Mduduzi Simelane.
Mabuza and Simelane, also known as Magawugawu, are among those who are advocating for democracy in Eswatini. Their legal representative, Thulani Maseko, has confirmed that the warrants of arrest have been issued, however, they have not yet been arrested.
Eswatini government goes after democracy advocates
Maseko says, “Our understanding between me and the clients is that as soon as they get the court process, they will give me a call. Then I will make my way wherever they will be and then begin to trigger the legal system.”
“We don’t know the basis of the warrant of arrest at the moment. Our plan is to then approach the court to have them released either on bail. These are people who are well known in Swaziland (Eswatini) and we believe they have not committed any crime so the court should be able to release them,” added Maseko.
In the wake of these daring protests, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini to engage in dialogue to resolve the impasse that led to a week of pro-democracy protests.
However, a delegation from SADC is in the land-locked kingdom on a fact-finding mission. The President of Botswana and Chairperson of the SADC Troika, Dr Mogweetsi Masisi, was accompanied by Botswana Minister of International Affairs, Dr Lemohang Kwape. They met with the acting Eswatini Prime Minister, Themba Masuku.