CHILDREN USED TO CARRY PLACARDS - DPM

MBABANE - Acting Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku  has told senators that children at the age of seven were used to carry placards during petition deliveries last year.

The acting PM was delivering his responses after senators moved a motion without notice, that he submits a report detailing what government was doing with regard to the escalating cases of violence and arson attacks. “Government has pictures of children as young as seven displaying placards during the petition deliveries in the numerous constituencies. “Some people were even assaulted during these petition deliveries which also compelled government to ban them as we also have the responsibility to protect life,” said Masuku. Masuku further told senators that the banning of petition deliveries was not a way to mute the voices of emaSwati, but government was compelled by her responsibility to protect the rights of children.

Unleashed

Meanwhile, Senator Isaac Mmemo Magagula wanted to know from the acting PM if it was true that the security forces were unleashed on emaSwati during the June/July 2021 unrest and also if it was true that the ‘shoot to kill order’ was made by government. The acting PM in his response to Senator Magagula rubbished the claims that an order was made to unleash security officers to shoot to kill emaSwati during last year’s political unrest.
“Police have a duty to protect life, property and the country and the narrative that someone had made an order to kill is very wrong.

“Police are not enemies but our children, your brothers and it is the responsibility of every liSwati to talk and engage with them. “That narrative that said they were ordered to shoot and kill is foreign,” he added. Masuku further  pointed out that everyone was now  threatened and once you spoke something different from another person’s  opinion, then it was a huge possibility that your home would be  invaded and  one would be brutally tortured then  assassinated. He then disclosed to the senators that support was being directed to the different security forces by government to assist them handle the current situation.

Threats

Senator Mkhululi Dlamini in the same motion stated that the issue of security threats were raised to the PM imploring his office to find out the complaints of people who were alleging that their relatives were killed by cops. “We also did the same on the killing of the cops and also on that one which made them to march to the PM and thereafter they went to the ex-NATCOM, Senator Isaac Magagula’s home. “We are asking the PM again, what is wrong with the country’s security,” he asked. Another, Senator Prince Mshengu, stated that the solution lied with emaSwati and that they were the ones who should first handle the matter of the security threat in their various communities.

Meanwhile, Senator Alberto Samuels has implored government to consider engaging the pro-change formations as a means to end the brutal killings and the attacks on local businesses. The senator pointed out that the country was falling apart and that no police could come to your home at night to assist you due these turbulent times the country was faced with.“It may sound crazy but my opinion is that government should consider engaging the members of the political formations. “They have a heart because they are human too and I ask that there must no longer be derogatory statements undermining them. “I have personally engaged them on occasion and I know it is possible that we succeed to put an end to the killings and the violence taking place in our society,” advised Senator Samuels.

Calm

Another, Senator Chief Ngalokhulu Mabuza asked his colleagues, what they had done themselves to calm down the situation in the country before turning to the prime minister with their questions. Senator Mabuza wondered what they would gain by killing innocent citizens. “You come to kill me as the head of the family but the biggest mistake that you will make is not killing all of my children and relatives. “We are all interrelated in Eswatini and you can murder me but the relatives left behind will never sit down with you on the table to discuss any peace settlement,” the senator clarified.
Senator Masuku pointed out that when you are overwhelmed with fear, you are not in a condition to settle down for a dialogue either.

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