National

MANZINI – Gender-based violence claimed 22 lives across Eswatini in the first three months of 2026, including seven children.

Police warned that the scourge was escalating despite ongoing efforts to curb it.

National Commissioner of Police Vusi Masango revealed during the Gender-Based Violence Indaba yesterday that the Royal Eswatini Police Service recorded 1 994 GBV cases between January 1 and March 31 this year, with Manzini recording the highest number of reported incidents.

Speaking during the national dialogue held under the theme, ‘Building Safe Communities: A Collective Response to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence in Eswatini’, Masango described GBV as a growing national crisis that continues to destroy families, traumatise children and undermine national development.

“Murder incidents related to GBV are on the rise, with a total of 22 spine-chilling cases reported,” said Masango.

He said Hhohho Region recorded the highest number of GBV-related murders at eight, followed by Manzini and Lubombo with five each, while Shiselweni recorded four.

According to the commissioner, 16 of the survivors were women while six were men.

Masango said children were among the most affected by the violence, revealing that seven minors under the age of 17 lost their lives in GBV-related circumstances during the period under review.

Those aged between 18 and 24 years accounted for three deaths, while six victims were aged between 25 and 59 years. Another six victims were over the age of 60.

“The disheartening fact is that the perpetrators are trusted people, someone closely connected to the victim such as being husband, wife, lovers, parents and family members,” he said.

Masango further revealed that some GBV incidents ended in murder-suicides, where perpetrators killed their partners and children before taking their own lives to evade arrest or the trauma associated with their actions.

The police chief said the cost of inaction is far too great, noting that GBV destroys families, fuels crime, weakens communities and negatively affects national productivity.

“Gender-based violence is not only a personal tragedy for those affected, but a national development issue that demands urgent and sustained attention,” he said.

Masango also raised concern over an alarming increase in rape cases.

Panellists at the National Gender-Based Violence Indaba in Manzini presented submissions on key interventions needed to combat GBV, including strengthened legal frameworks, improved survivor support services, community-based prevention strategies and enhanced collaboration between state and non-state actors.

The Royal Eswatini Police Service, led by National Commissioner Vusie Masango, joined Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla at the national GBV Indaba in Manzini, reflecting a high-level multi-sectoral commitment to addressing gender-based violence through coordinated prevention, enforcement and support mechanisms. (Pics:Siphosethu Dlamini)

National Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police Service Vusie Masango addressed delegates at the GBV Indaba in Manzini, presenting alarming statistics on rising cases of violence and calling for urgent investment in forensic capacity, survivor shelters and stronger law enforcement coordination.

GBV cases by age group (2024-2025).