By Zweli Martin Dlamini

LOBAMBA: King Mswati has been avoiding international trips since the political unrest started amid a serious security threat to his life both locally and internationally.

Mswati, a dictator who rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch with Executive, Judiciary and Legislative powers is facing growing calls for democratic reforms both  locally and internationally.

Last week, the Conveyor of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) told this publication that they were responsible for the ongoing petrol bombings and or burning of structures in eSwatini adding that this was done to put pressure on Mswati to allow democratic reforms.

The Solidarity Forces later threatened to target structures and individuals close to Mswati’s heart after he insulted the public calling citizens timphaka adding that eSwatini belonged to him.

In the midst of the escalating tension within the Kingdom, on Tuesday, Mswati, a known tourist who undertook various international trips with taxpayers money, sent his Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini to attend an extraordinary meeting of the Southern African Development Community(SADC) to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The King is currently at loggerheads heads with some senior pro-democracy royal family members who are putting pressure on him to allow democratic reforms. 

But after this Swaziland News interviewed some of the disgruntled senior royal family members including Princess Dlalisile, another royal clique that include Defense Ministry Chief Officer Prince Sihlangusemphi and Prince Simelane subsequently held a press conference in November 2021 expressing their support for Mswati.

However, this is not to suggest that Princess Dlal’sile is among those who are plotting to oust Mswati.

Reached for comments, Pius Vilakati, the Spokesperson of the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS) said Mswati was avoiding international trips because of the escalating threat to dethrone him in the midst of the political unrest.

“He fears that he may be overthrown even by people from his own inner circle, hence he seeks to maintain his stronghold by staying behind", said the CPS Spokesperson.

On Tuesday, Government, released an announcement via their official online platforms that Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini would be representing Mswati at the SADC extraordinary meeting in Malawi.

“Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini leaves Eswatini for Lilongwe, Malawi, where he will represent His Majesty King Mswati III at the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government”, read the announcement released by the office of the Government Spokesperson.

But the announcement did not state that the SADC leaders were expected to discuss, among others about the political unrest in eSwatini and the instability in Mozambique.

In the midst of the political unrest around July 2021, this publication reported that Mswati was allegedly escorted by soldiers from the Equatorial Guinea, at the time Jeffery Shabalala, the then Army Commander declined to respond and clarify this saying he does not discuss security issues with anyone outside the State Security Agency.

”I don’t talk about security matters with anybody who doesn’t belong to the security forces”, said  the then Army Commander.

A member of the royal guard who spoken to this publication on condition of anonymity said Mswati was no longer trusting even some of his brothers.

“He doesn’t want some of Sobhuza’s children next to him anymore. Even among us, as royal guards, he longer trust be closer to him”, said the royal guard.

Thabile Mdluli, the Deputy Government Spokesperson had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report, she was asked to clarify why the King was now reluctant to take international trips.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Alfred Chauwa, a journalist of the Malawi Nyasa Times urged SADC to work towards resolving the political unrest in eSwatini while condemning the killing of civilians.

“We strongly condemn the ongoing killing of civilians in eSwatini”, he said. 

King Mswati who rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch allegedly unleashed his forces to shoot and kill protesting civilians who were demanding democratic reforms.He is now subject of an investigation by international human rights organizations and has avoided international trips since  he ordered the killing of civilians in 29 June 2021.