MBABANE: Lucky Lukhele, the Spokesperson of the Swaziland Solidarity Network(SSN) has called upon South African artists to boycott the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival in solidarity with Swazis who are being killed by King Mswati’s forces.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Sunday during an interview, Lukhele said they would engage various artists like Sjava to consider boycotting the event adding that performing in such events in the midst of the political tension would create an impression that the situation is now normal in eSwatini.
It has been disclosed that despite the calls for a dialogue, King Mswati allegedly commanded soldiers to terrorize civilians in the rural areas, this include women and children, dozens have been killed since the unrest started in June 2021.
“We will soon contact other artists who are very close to Sjava to consider convincing him to consider withdrawing his performance in eSwatini. It is important for South African artists to understand that performing there in the midst of the current situation would be like sending a message to the world that things are now normal yet the people are being terrorized and killed”, he said.
The Standard Bank Luju, Food and Lifestyle Festival will be hosted by the House of Fire on the 27-28 November 2021.
Questions were sent to Standard Bank Eswatini Chief Executive Mvuselelo Fakudze, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom in Southern Africa and ruled by Mswati as an absolute Monarch is facing a political crisis after the King unleashed security forces to shoot and kill civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.
An advert for Standard Bank Luju, Food and Lifestyle Festival.