EZULWINI: Leaders of the Political Parties Assembly (PPA), the civil society and other stakeholders are calling for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika on Politics, Defense and Security to deploy peacekeeping soldiers to protect civilians.
This was submitted by the political leaders during a meeting with SADC Envoys at the Royal Villas, the delegation was sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as Chairperson of the SADC Troika.
Sibongile Mazibuko, one of the leaders of the Political Parties Assembly(PPA) confirmed that they had urged SADC to deploy peacekeeping soldiers in the country to protect civilians.
“We argued that SADC needs to deploy soldiers in the country to protect civilians as Mswatis forces are currently killing civilians. Soldiers were once deployed in Lesotho in the midst of a political crisis and we want the same thing to happen here so that people can feel safe”, she said.
The SADC special envoy, led by the former South African Justice Minister, met with His Majesty King Mswati on Thursday before meeting with PPA leaders and other stakeholders on Friday. Eswatini finds itself in the midst of political chaos after Mswati unleashed soldiers and police officers to shoot and kill dozens of protesting civilians demanding democratic reforms.
PPA leaders and other stakeholders meeting the SADC Troika Envoys