LOMAHASHA: Sive Lukheleni, a nine-year old boy from Mbasheni, Lomahasha whose family forms part of the about 70% of the population living below the poverty line was forced to join the protests after the police shot his brother.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political crisis, women and children are the most affected, some are now orphans after their parents were shot and killed during the pro-democracy protests by King Mswati's security forces.

Speaking to this publication, Sive said he was angry that the same police officer ,Constable Sehlakalo Dlamini who gunned down two Lomahasha residents for criticising the King also shot his 16-year old brother, Machawe Lukhuleni and confined him to a wheel chair on 30th June during the recent protests for democratic reforms.

"I simply joined the march because I was and I'm still angry that my brother was shot by the police even though he was not part of the march and was just a passerby", he said.

National Commissioner of Police William Dlamini told the Nation through a public statement that the police officer who subsequently shot two other residents has been arrested, however, Lomahasha residents demanded the arrest of other security officers who killed dozens of civilians.

When reached for comments, Dumsani Mnisi, the Executive Director of Save the Children Eswatini appealed for the protection of children during times of violence.

"This is a crime, you cannot just shoot children who were roaming the streets.According to law and the United Nations Conventions, children should be looked at as children and should never be involved in our battles. It is a crime to even target and mobilise them to participate in protests,”said the Executive Director.