LONHLUPHEKO: Over sixty(60) workers who were traveling in a bus from Mhlume to participate in a protest at Siteki on Thursday were allegedly beaten by soldiers, forced to roll on the ground while singing praises to King Mswati.
The unfortunate incident that manifested in the midst of the ongoing political unrest was confirmed by Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) who further mentioned that they were still trying to locate some of the workers who were abducted by the soldiers into the bushes.
“The workers were from Mhlume and Simunye, their bus was stopped by the police at Lonhlupheko. The police then forced them into a nearby bush where they were then loaded into an army truck and driven deeper into the bushes. Before they were beaten, the soldiers grabbed their cellphones, they were then made to sing King Mswati’s praises saying “Bayethe” while being beaten and made to roll on the ground”, said the TUCOSWA Secretary General.
Police Spokesperson Phindile Vilakati declined to comment when reached for comments by this publication.
On or around 27th October 2021, William Dlamini, the National Commissioner of Police wrote to TUCOSWA urging the federation to postpone the gathering slated for 28th October 2021 in what he described as the interest of Public Order, Safety and National Security.
The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) organized the protest calling for among others, a genuine political dialogue and an end to the consistent shutdown of the internet during protests.
The torture of the workers comes in the midst of the killing of protesting civilians by Mswati’s security forces, dozens have been killed since the unrest started in June 2021.
Protestors were beaten and forced to roll on the ground while singing praises to Mswati.