By Zweli Martin Dlamini

The European Union(EU) Eswatini seems infiltrated by Tinkhundla elements hell bent to undermine efforts to democratize this country by suffocating the civil society through systematic halting or blocking of donor funding.

Recently, EU Brussels approved funding amounting to over four hundred thousand Rands(R400,000.00) for the Swaziland Human Rights Network but soon thereafter, some officials from EU Eswatini called an urgent meeting, questioning if the Eswatini Government was aware of the funding that seeks to finance activities or fund the investigation of human rights violations in this undemocratic country.

Well, I am told that, EU Eswatini was complaining that, there was no proper communication or correspondence with EU Brussels before the approval of the funding.

But even though the project has been allowed to go ahead, the conduct of some officials within EU Eswatini allegedly linked to the Tinkhundla undemocratic regime leaves a lot to be desired, we can’t have Tinkhundla agents mushrooming as diplomats, pushing an oppressive agenda against the poor and vulnerable emaSwati.

It’s true that, some of the employees within these Embassies are emaSwati by birth and, they are captured by the ruling Tinkhundla undemocratic regime to spy on reports or engagements between the Embassies and the pro-democracy movement.

Even though diplomats are highly expected to be neutral in the midst of political conflicts and promote peaceful engagements to resolve disputes, diplomacy must not supersede human rights advocacy and, you cannot claim to be diplomatic in the midst of gross violations of human rights and human dignity.

The European Union has business interests with the Tinkhundla regime, sugar and beef are some of the local products exported to European market and in return, the EU is supporting social activities like Free Primary Education(FPE) so that this corrupt regime could breath and survive political upheavals.

The EU normally portrays itself as a supporter of human rights and democracy but once they analyze the political temperatures to ascertain if the situation suggests that King Mswati might be toppled, the European Union will strengthen ties with those calling for democracy by releasing endless pro-democracy grants.

Well, almost all diplomats from capitalists countries behave like that, it’s their foreign policies seeking to side with whoever is winning in the midst of political conflicts to protect their business interests is actually a clear act of political hypocrisy but, they call it diplomacy.

We know that, their grants or donations to the pro-democracy movement or civil society organizations are very strategic,it’s “actually a remember me should you seize power”, political generosity or gesture.

But I am particularly concerned with the ongoing suffocation of civil society organizations by the Tinkhundla regime, under the watchful eye of the European Union Eswatini and other Embassies.

King Mswati’s regime is using the banking or newly introduced forex systems to block all monies from international donors, intended to promote democracy and human rights and, the EU Eswatini is silent.

In the midst of the silence, some officials within EU Eswatini allegedly questioned a human rights project funded by EU Brussels, they wanted all the information about the project so that, they can report to King Mswati’s regime.

Diplomats should not be complicit in undermining human rights and then hide behind diplomacy, there’s a huge difference between diplomacy and abuse of diplomatic principles to undermine human rights.

Allowing a host country to suffocate Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) whose vibrancy remain fundamental in holding the Government accountability is not, in any way, diplomacy but an act of collusion in undermining human rights and of course, promoting a culture of impunity.

It is therefore imperative to urge the European Union, to strike a balance between diplomacy and human rights advocacy, allowing the King’s Tinkhundla undemocratic regime to financially suffocate civil society organizations means, these diplomatic partners are complicit to the acts of human rights violations.

Indeed, the EU has all the powers to engage with eSwatini at diplomatic level and, question why donor funds meant to assist civil society organizations are blocked by the various banks as per the directive issued by the Government.

This nonsensical narrative suggesting that, the donor funds will finance terrorism must be investigated independently by the diplomatic partners because Tinkhundla, as previously mentioned, is a Government that strives through outright lies and deception.

As the situation stands, some civil society organizations are collapsing and once the Tinkhundla regime succeeds in destroying the civil society, that would mean there would be no accountability in this country.

The EU cannot therefore, claim to be advocating for human rights while allowing or colluding with a corrupt regime to destroy institutions that remain fundamental, in promoting checks and balances.

In conclusion, let me urge His Excellency Karsten Mecklenburg, the newly appointed EU Ambassador to eSwatini to launch a vigorous investigation, there are Tinkhundla spies within the EU Eswatini Embassy working for King’s oppressive Government and their conduct, I would suggest, defeats the fundamental values and principles of diplomacy.