In the face of adversity, relatives are crying out for protection in Eswatini | ESwatini Stories

Forget Mathunjwa is grieving. They meet again.

His brother, Sicelo Mathunjwa, 35, was shot dead on Tuesday evening when Swaziland police fired shots at people in Matsapha, a small industrial area about 35km (21 miles) from Mbabane’s capital.

“Sicelo is dead, he is dead on the spot,” Mathunjwa told Al Jazeera, that he could not move from his village of Mazombiswe to his brother Hosea’s village, 30km (18 miles) away, and pay his last respects to him because of the crisis in the country. a small body of water formerly known as Swaziland.

For several days, Eswatini, Africa’s last dictatorship, has been rocked by massive anti-democratic protests over the years that have seen many young security guards stage protests against youth who ignore the curfew.

Mathunjwa said his nephew, who works in a clothing factory, was near the scene when police fired shots at protesters who set fire to the house of Eswatini Beverages, a company owned by King Mswati III.

“She was near the Mats Mats kitchen that night,” the 59-year-old said in a telephone interview. “My children went to identify the corpse in the fireplace and saw a hole behind it.”

Activists for two political parties, the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) and the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), told Al Jazeera that at least 40 people had been killed in the fighting.

But in a statement issued on Thursday, Prime Minister Themba Masuku’s deputy prime minister’s office said he had “not received any public reports on the deaths. We are investigating the allegations.”

Calling for ‘political multiplication, response’

Although protests for political change do not always happen, they are not new to Eswatini.

The crisis has been raging for months in the mountainous region, with the coronavirus increasing the economic woes and the king and his allies being criticized for living a life of poverty while living in extreme poverty.

The protests were sparked by a June 24 law banning citizens from submitting petitions to members of parliament seeking a change in democracy. It was followed by a public outcry over the alleged killings by police of law student Thabani Nkomonye in May.

Businesses in Matsapha have been hijacked and set on fire by protesters, but the presence of security guards on the streets has put citizens at risk of using force.

“Terrible civil unrest continues in Swaziland, including the use of deadly force by security forces,” the US embassy said words this week, seeing the disruption of communication.

Arriving home at night, meanwhile, has taken people off the streets, while airports and public transportation have been closed. CPS says 13 of its members have been arrested.

“We are not surprised by the government’s strong response,” PungEMO leader Mlungisi Makhanya told Al Jazeera. “We, the people, say we need to open up the legislature… so that people can decide for themselves how they want to govern themselves,” he said.

“We need to change the new era where there is more politics and leadership that is accountable to its people, not hard-hearted against the monarch,” he told Al Jazeera.

Although a smaller population of 1.2 million supports the monarchy, Makhanya warned that Mswati would continue to wreak havoc on the world at the risk of international domination.

Known as an 18-year-old regent, Mswati succeeded to the throne from his father, King Sobhuza II, who banned him from registering in political parties in 1973.

Instead, the country’s system allows candidates to stand for office, leaving no room for a political party to have a majority in parliament. The prime minister is appointed by the king, who has full authority.

The emperor has not commented on the protests all week – a method, observers say, which is consistent with the royal process in the event of a crisis.

“The idea of ​​promoting democracy in Eswatini is not new. This is an idea that people have had for many years in the end and the chiefs have managed to produce things using sticks and carrots, ”said Menzi Ndhlovu, senior political analyst and countryman at Signal Risk he was told Al Jazeera Inside Story program Thursday.

“In the event of a riot, the monarch would be in a state of shock until the situation calmed down. It is not surprising that the king is silent as his ambassadors and policemen carry out the task, calming the people, and then when things get calmer, they come out and talk. “

Schedule PM: 01 July 2021 pic.twitter.com/f5hJYSKdTn

– Eswatini Government (@ EswatiniGovern1) July 2, 2021

Earlier this week, Masuku, the prime minister, dismissed speculation that Mswati had left the country. He went on to describe the protests as “frustrating and dangerous” and told people to “report their concerns” to the government via email.

He also said that the deployment of security forces should ensure peace.

“The government has tightened security to restore order, peace and security for all Swati people. “We will continue to tolerate theft, arson, violence, and all other forms of crime associated with business and human property,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Call for a consultation

Thabani Maseko, a lawyer and human rights activist, said the growing dissatisfaction with Mswati’s oppression of citizens could lead to problems. While in prison in 2015 for criticizing the courts, Maseko wrote a letter to former United States President Barack Obama, urging him to pressure other world leaders to push for a change in the law.

However, Maseko believes that the only way to resolve the “complete mayhem” is to negotiate.

“Efforts are being made to reach all stakeholders from labor unions, trade unions, youth groups, businesses and churches to meet and find alliances. We are trying to create a communication system with the government, but it is difficult because the means of communication are low and travel is difficult, ”he said.

“The only way to resolve this conflict is if the government sees dialogue and it is important that it develops a way forward,” he said.

However, for exiled politicians, such as CPS Secretary-General Kenneth Kunene, the first of the talks is “not to open political parties”.

After failing to return to Swaziland for fear of persecution, Kunene and many members of his party fled to neighboring South Africa.

Heavyweight, in South Africa on Thursday expressed “grave concern” at the actions of the security forces and called on them to “fully care for and protect the lives and property of the people”.

“We are particularly concerned about reports of deaths and property damage,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said.

Back in Mazombiswe, Mathunjwa is saddened by the death of his nephew and father of three.

“His father died a long time ago and he should have taken over,” he said. “He was the only child in my brother’s house, he was the only one in the house, now his sisters have to take care of the family,” added Mathunjwa.

“We will remember him as a loving and communicative man who united the whole family. This is very painful for us. ”