Times Of Swaziland: ACTIVISTS PROPOSE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SHOT VICTIMS

ACTIVISTS PROPOSE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SHOT VICTIMS
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BY PHIWASE PHUNGWAYO on 08/07/2021 08:47:00


MBABANE – Advocates for change activists have proposed a memorial service at
constituency centres for all those who were allegedly shot and killed by members
of security forces during the recent political unrest in the country.
The proposed prayer is scheduled for Saturday, ideally at tinkhundla centres. It
comes after the country was marred by violent unrest which saw businesses and
offices being vandalised and looted, while some members of the public were
injured and killed.
According to Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) President Colani
Maseko, the memorial service affected everyone, including students, unions,
political parties and the civil society.
Planning
When asked about the execution plan of the memorial service and logistics, the
president said they were currently in the final stages of the planning process
and would share details once they were concluded. Maseko stated that government
would be engaged to request for permission to host the event. Meanwhile,
Siphofaneni Member of Parliament Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane said although
he did not plan the prayer, he was aware that some emaSwati were planning such
an event. “I will partake in the prayer if it eventually happens, but it will
be virtual because my life is in danger,” Simelane said. He said he would not
risk his life by attending physically.  The MP said he would have to wait and
see if it would eventually take place. He reiterated that in the event he would
be a part of the memorial services, he would participate virtually.
“Otherwise I am fully for the prayer because we should honour those people
(the deceased),” Simelane said. Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Sabelo
Dlamini said government was not made aware of the proposed prayer. “At a time
when Eswatini is now in the third wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, we
strongly discourage any gathering of crowds. We all need to be vigilant in
protecting each other from the devastating effects of the virus,” Dlamini
said. Meanwhile, during the violent unrest that took place last week, over 10
tinkhundla centres were damaged countrywide. This was revealed when Minister of
Tinkhundla Administration and Development David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala
inspected some of the tinkhundla centres that were damaged in the Shiselweni
Region. The visited constituency centres were; Ngudzeni, Sandleni, KuMethula and
Maseyiseyini. The ministry’s Communications Officer Nosimilo Dlamini said
currently, the value in monetary terms lost to the burning of the constituency
centres was yet to be ascertained. Dlamini said today, the ministry would tour
Hosea, Somntongo and Matsanjeni constituency centres.