IT’S NORMAL WORKING DAY TODAY, GOVT ASSURES EMASWATI

MBABANE – Despite calls to stall all operations for the protest march organised by the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF), government says today is a normal working day in the country.

In an interview yesterday, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, had issued a statement assuring emaSwati in their entirety, to remain calm and go ahead with their respective endeavours, as the kingdom’s security services would work hard to ensure their safety and protection as they did so. Disturbances
Nxumalo said that did not mean that some rogue elements may not attempt to cause disturbances in order to gain undeserved attention. “However, the law will continue to be maintained and enforced in the country regardless,” said Nxumalo.

The government spokesperson added that as government, they were not yet aware of the contents of the petition that the MSF wanted to deliver to the PM’s Office. He said they might only be able to see it tomorrow if and when the MSF delivered it. Nxumalo added that today was not a holiday in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He said holidays were gazetted first by the incumbent government, and announced accordingly.

Formations

“They are not designated by any other entity in society,” said Nxumalo. This comes after several political formations had called for today to be a public holiday in remembrance of the people who died during the June/July unrest last year. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintended Phindile Vilakati, said as police, they would stick to what was said by the PM on Monday during the press conference. The PM had said security agents would be available to protect the public. He said government would do everything to protect the lives of emaSwati, and to restore peace and order in the country. “These criminals and their enablers will face the full might of the law,” said Dlamini.

Meanwhile, MSF Chairperson Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko insisted that today’s march was still on. When asked if they had their own security measures in place in order to keep participants safe, Maseko said they would have marshals who would be helping the participants. The permit for the march was denied by the Municipal Council of Mbabane. The MSF had initially applied to assemble and proceed from the Coronation Park to the PM’s Office. The routes to be followed were from the Coronation Park, through Dr Sishayi Road and Usuthu Link Road to the Hospital Hill. Yesterday, Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) said they would be joining the march called by MSF. SWAYOCO President Sakhile ‘Aw’viva’ Nxumalo said their plan as well was to join MSF in the march heading to the PM’s Office to deliver the petition.

March

Nxumalo said they were aware that police might block those who may want to join the march along the way. He said in such cases, they were encouraging those who might be blocked to push the struggle in those places where they would be blocked. He said today there should be a demonstration everywhere in the country. Nxumalo said they were expecting many people to join the march. He went on to say they were calling upon all public transport workers to join them by parking their vehicles and also businesses to do the same. He said this should be done to honour those who lost their lives in the June/July unrest last year.

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