ARMY READY TO PREVENT UNREST - MINISTER

LOBAMBA - The Acting Minister of National Defence and Security, Pholile Shakantu, has assured senators that the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) remains vigilant to prevent a recurrence of the June 2021 unrest. While emphasising the military’s readiness, Shakantu highlighted that the true priority lies in fostering peace among emaSwati.She also stressed the importance of promoting peace across all sectors of the nation’s structures, urging collective efforts to ensure stability.This was disclosed yesterday, when the Ministry of National Defence and Security was presenting its first quarter performance report for the year 2024/25 financial year before its Senate portfolio committee.

The committee members had questioned the minister about the army’s readiness to protect the country against foreign elements that would want to disturb peace.Senator Fezeka Dlamini said there were elements that infiltrated the country in 2021.Dlamini asked for the ministry’s assurance, questioning what they were doing to ensure that what happened during the June 2021 unrest was not repeated.She said emaSwati love peace and they appreciate it in the country. Adding, Dlamini mentioned that they were happy to see that the national airspace was safeguarded, both in peace and wartime.She, however, raised concerns about the aircraft that need to undergo major servicing, but due to a lack of budget, that mandate was not achieved.

appreciated

On the same note, Senator Celumusa Mndvoti appreciated the army for their work during the unrest.Mndvoti also appreciated that the country was regained, following the disturbing events of the unrest.He shared that he was one of the people who experienced the unrest first-hand.According to Mndvoti, it was difficult for one to even clad traditional regalia as they were targets.In response to the senators’ concerns, Minister Shakantu acknowledged that a lot of damage was done to the country during the unrest.Shakantu said there was a need to safeguard the country and the army was on guard to provide security.According to the minister, there is a need for enough budget in order to tap into the emerging technologies used for security.She stated that the budget should be sufficient to address any issues.Moreover, the minister stated that there was a need to continue protecting the country, so that it would not regress to the previous events.“As a nation, we should continue to engage and promote peace as emaSwati. Every person has a mandate to protect the country.

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“What we saw happening during the unrest, we do not want to see it because, if there is something you want to say, His Majesty opened that platform to engage on how we can develop the country peacefully as emaSwati,” Shakantu said.She went on to state that the country should desist from the idea that, if one does not agree with any other person’s view, one should burn his or her property.Shakantu explained that emaSwati should promote peace in all sectors because, without peace, no business can thrive.“Some of the businesses that were affected during the unrest are still struggling. It is within us as emaSwati to promote peace and the army will then protect us from foreign elements coming to disturb the peace,” she said. Furthermore, she mentioned that there is a need of continued training of the army, as the world changes.She stated that there are emerging security threats that need continued training and investments in advanced technologies.

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