By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE: John Fan, a Taiwanese investor and Managing Director of the FTM Garments textile factory in Nhlangano, is alleged to be one of the high profile individuals behind the ongoing demolition of homes and eviction of emaSwati from their land at Gege-eMbondzela and surrounding areas.

As reported by this Swaziland News earlier on Monday evening, a TLB driven by an identified person, allegedly acting on the instructions of alleged Farm Manager Tito Dlamini and Sandile Simelane and the Taiwan investors,invaded the area with armed security guards and destroyed houses.

Eswatini is ruled by King Mswati as an absolute Monarch, some of the investors who stand accused of being behind the demolitions and/or human rights violations comes eSwatini’s diplomatic ally, Taiwan.

Hundreds of emaSwati were left homeless amid the ongoing demolitions and evictions at Gege.

Tito Dlamini,the alleged Farm Manager declined to comment when reached by this Swaziland News regarding the evictions.

Speaking to this publication, Mciniseli Nhleko, a resident of the area whose home was destroyed on Monday night said, it’s unfortunate because the people persecuting and evicting them from their land,are connected to the authorities.

“We don’t have a government,we are on our own and those who evict and destroy our homes are connected to the authorities”, he said.

The evictions and demolitions of homes have been condemned by various political parties and civil society groups in eSwatini.

In a press statement sent to this publication on Tuesday evening, the Human Rights Consortium under the auspices of the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental organizations (CANGO) condemned the evictions.

“We are concerned with the increased impunity, lawlessness and rights violations as it pertains to “farm dwellers” in recent years. These violations have been extensively reported by the local media, and the reports of reputable regional and international institutions advancing human rights. In all these instances, there has been no response, action of accountability by the Eswatini authorities suggesting that this heavy handedness is either sanction or condoned at the highest levels”,reads the statement in part.

On another note, Lioness Sibandze, the Secretary General of the Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) also condemned the forceful eviction of the Mbondzela-Gege families, whose homes were ruthlessly demolished. 

“These actions,carried out by Taiwanese foreigners, serve as stark evidence of a three-pronged battle:The Royal Family:Their influence remains a formidable obstacle.The Tinkhundla System: A complex web of governance that perpetuates inequality.Neo-Colonialism (Capitalism):A force that exploits land and resources.We urgently call upon eMaSwati to rise up and reclaim what rightfully belongs to them, their land”, said the SPLM Secretary General.

A questionnaire was sent to John Fan,a Taiwanese national who claim to be the Farm owner, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments,Brian Sangweni,the National Spokesperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) described the evictions that continue to take place in the country through procedures that are devoid of the consideration that people have rights as very appalling. 

“Even if people are deemed to have occupied land illegally, there are just procedures which are internationally recognized and which Swaziland is party to and thereby bounded by them that ought to be followed when removing people who are deemed to have occupied land illegally. The government is supposed to protect the rights of these people and among such rights is that when you remove people, you don’t do it without providing them with alternative land or dwelling but most importantly the alternative dwelling must be better than the one they were occupying before. The fact that the government is failing to protect the rights of people who are deemed to be dwelling where they shouldn’t is an indication that Swazis are on their own under Tinkhundla system of government. What is also glaring is that Swazis are suffering too much under the provision that someone is holding land in trust for them. It wouldn’t be difficult to deal with the land issues, to properly plan dwellings and to distribute land in accordance with their need under a provision where the land is owned by them through a government of their own”, said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.