Pro-democracy protest is ongoing in eSwatini as we speak demanding an end to the regime under King Mswati who has ruled the country formerly known as Swaziland since 1986. Reports on the ground suggest that the situation is reaching a boiling point.
The Media Review Network SA is deeply concerned with what is happening on the ground in eSwatini which is reaching a boiling point. The leadership of SADC, if they don’t act now, they may fail to contain this situation in the coming days.
We deplore the regimes high handed attacks and view it as an assault on democratic freedoms of the people of eSwatini who are demanding constitutional changes in the way they want to be governed.
Schools have been shut down after students joined pro-democracy demonstrations in the southern African kingdom. Students’ groups and private commuter bus operators have been at the forefront of the latest protests over the past two weeks.
Over 100 been killed since the unrest began in June and activists are blaming the government of downplaying the death toll. The sooner SADC moves in, the better for people of eSwatini and also the region as a whole.
The government of eSwatini needs to be told that in no uncertain terms will it go on killing its people wantonly just because they are demanding their democratic space.
We call upon the global community, AU, and SADC in particular to adopt a courageous stance to vehemently oppose this crackdown by the government.
Issued by:
Dr. Mustafa Mheta
Senior Research Fellow/Head of Africa Desk
Media Review Network SA
+27768045215
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