By BY NELISIWE DLAMINI

MBABANE: King Mswati allegedly ordered the police to block Swazis from attending the 12 April 1973 Decree protest at the Oshoek Border on Tuesday.

Eswatini is ruled by Mswati as an absolute Monarch with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers, political parties are banned from participating in elections and citizens are killed for protesting in demand for democratic reforms.

Reached for comments, Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) confirmed that police blocked them at Motshane about three(3) kilometres away from the Oshoek Border Gate.

“At Motshane, we found police in a road-block and they blocked us,” said the SNAT President.

Thabile Mdluli,  the Deputy Government Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report. 

Political parties and trade unions in South Africa and eSwatini collaborated on Tuesday during the commemoration of the April 12, 1973 Decree which is also known as King Sobhuza’s Proclamation, the protest took place at the Oshoek Border Gate.

Speaking to this Swaziland News, Rasta Sibandze, the Chairperson of the Mbabane Public Transport Workers  Association confirmed that the police blocked their customers adding that they subsequently vacated the Mbabane Bus Rank demanding a bus fare hike from Government leaving commuters stranded without transport. 

“The police together with the army and warders mounted roadblocks on the way to Oshoek and turned away the protesters who are our customers. We decided to vacate the bus rank to demand a bus fare hike from Government since the petrol price is escalating and we are now being harassed by the armed forces in our work space\", he said.