07 Jul 2021

SADC is in the process of deploying a second mission to eSwatini as a matter of urgency to meet with other key stakeholders,.

The move follows reports of the recent civil unrest and violent disturbances in eSwatini, which led to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, in his capacity as the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security chairperson, urgently dispatching a Fact-Finding Mission to the kingdom state on July 4.

In a statement presented in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape said the purpose of the mission was to gather first-hand information on disturbances, including the state of security in eSwatini. 

Also, it was to appeal for calm and restraint from all the stakeholders, as well as propose an open national dialogue, as a way forward in efforts towards finding a lasting solution.

He said the mission had planned to meet with all key stakeholders in the country in an inclusive manner. 

However, they only managed a comprehensive engagement with government officials due to limited time and COVID-19 restrictions.

Minister Kwape said the mission also held a brief meeting with some stakeholders that included civil society organisations, political groups and faith-based organisations. 

The aim was to assure them that a second mission to the country would be arranged urgently in order to have further consultations with all key stakeholders.

“In that regard, a second mission was obligatory to carve a comprehensive understanding of the situation with the capacity to inform an appropriate regional response in the interest of peace and stability in eSwatini,” he added.

Minister Kwape stated that government officials, in their presentations, indicated that the violent disturbances were mainly triggered by three Members of Parliament, who procedurally advocated for direct election of the country’s Prime Minister as opposed to the current constitutional arrangement whereby the Prime Minister was appointed by the King.

The three MPs, he said, mobilised their supporters to physically deliver a petition on their preferred method for the assumption of the Office of the Prime Minister.

He said the situation turned more violent when government decided to suspend the physical delivery of petitions across the country due concerns that the process was in violation of COVID-19 protocols.

Protestors, he said, looted and burnt many business establishments and at least 27 people died in the process with many others injured.

Minister Kwape said eSwatini as a result, was experiencing serious food shortage after the disturbances caused disruptions in the supply chain. 

There was also impact on the agricultural sector, particularly after the burning of grazing fields as well as many poultry and livestock farms.

He said preliminary estimates indicated the cost of damages to over P2 billion. 

Therefore, eSwatini government has requested for technical assistance from SADC to respond and plan for economic reconstruction following a period of political unrest.

Further, he indicated that engagement with other stakeholders revealed some diverging views on the cause of the violent unrest as stakeholders felt the trigger was political restrictions and lack of platforms to air their grievances.

 

He said stakeholders further complained about the high handedness of the security forces in their response to demonstrations, adding that stakeholders thus blamed the high number of casualties on the security forces inconsideration. ENDS