By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: King Mswati has been accused of undermining the rights children by using them to perform rituals.

This comes after an underage boy who was allegedly denied the right to education was seen on numerous occasions next to King Mswati even on school days, royal insiders told this publication that the child was used for ritual purposes.

On Friday,during a school day, the child who always appeared in public wearing dirty clothes was with the King during the official opening of the Mbabane Government Hospital, this was in the midst of nationwide protests against Mswati.

Reached for comments, Dumisani Mnisi, the Director of Save the Children said every custodian of a child must make sure that  kid goes to school. 

“It doesn’t matter who you are, we expect custodian of children to allow them to go school as per the law”, said the Save the Children Director.

Education Minister Lady Howard-Mabuza had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) urged the United Nations International Children Fund(UNICEF) to launch an investigation to ascertain why the child was always next to the King even on school days and whether he was authorized by his parents to be there.

“We urge UNICEF to investigate this matter because Mswati continues to use children for his evil practices and we cannot allow a Monarch whose days are numbered to destroy the future of this child”, said the PUDEMO President.

Insiders revealed that the child was allegedly used for ritual purposes and was always seen next to the King during his public appearances. The King normally summons other young boys towards at the end of every year to perform his ritual practices during an event known as Incwala.

Speaking to this Swaziland News, Colani Hlatswayo, the Africa Coordinator for One Billion Rising said every child in the country deserved the right to education adding that evidence suggesting that the child was denied the right to education was in complete violation of international law.

“The future of the country is on the younger generation hence they deserve to get all opportunities that will elevate them to have success. Access to education for the youth is what can pull out the country from the crumbling economy”, she said.