By Bongiwe Dlamini

LOZITHA:King Mswati has warned against Gender Based Violence(GBV) as killing of women escalates in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini.

The King added a voice against GBV when preaching during the End of Year Service at Lozitha Palace on Saturday, he encouraged men and women to live together in peace without violence and described the ongoing killing of women as an evil spirit that must be ‘rebuked’.

“God created a man to live in peace with a woman.He then created a woman to live in peace with a man, the ongoing domestic violence must come to an end,” said the King.

The warning from the Eswatini Head of State comes after the killing of six(6) women by their partners in the past two(2) weeks. 

Women rights organizations,political parties and civil society groups marched to the Deputy Prime Minister’s(DPM) Office this week, they are demanding that GBV must be declared a National Disaster by the Government so that, more efforts and resources could be utilized to fight what appeared to be an escalating national crisis.

Even the police marched in the streets of Manzini on Friday, creating awareness against the ongoing killing of women,the police service has a Domestic Violence Unit that deals with cases of Gender Based Violence(GBV).

Reached for comments,Nonhlanhla Dlamini,the Executive Director of the Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse(SWAGAA) thanked the King for adding a voice against Gender Based Violence(GBV).

“Maye siyabonga eNgwenyameni sitsi Bayethe Wena Waphakathi. This is what we expect from leaders, it shouldn’t be business as usual while women are being killed.But it must not end with statements, resources must be allocated to fight GBV. We hope now that the King has spoken, Government will take action,” said the SWAGAA Director when speaking to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.