MBABANE: A battalion of armed soldiers have been ordered allegedly, by King Mswati to patrol the streets and the whole country on the Eve of the 12 April 1973 Decree Commemoration.
On Monday afternoon,soldiers arrived at the University of Eswatini(UNESWA)to shoot protesting students, another battalion was later deployed at Manzini and by 9pm, the soldiers had already started firing shots.
Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) confirmed that the armed soldiers firstly arrived at UNESWA on Monday afternoon.
“The armed soldiers arrived at the University after the students engaged in a protest demanding allowances. We are happy that in almost all the protests, the students are calling for the fall of King Mswati. They now understand that they will live a better life once Mswati and his regime fall,”said the Students Union President.
Thabile Mdluli, the Deputy Government Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Swazis are highly expected to protest on Tuesday(12th April 2022) in commemoration of King Sobhuza’s 1973 Decree that banned political parties, the King then assumed absolute powers that were inherited by King Mswati.
Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) when speaking during a press conference held at Mountain Inn on Saturday said various South African political organizations and trade unions would conduct a border blockade in solidarity with the Swazis on Tuesday.
Reached for comments, resigned pro-democracy police officer Cebile ‘Cece’ Shongwe said she was aware of the plot to deploy soldiers on the Eve of the April 12, 1973 Decree Commemoration.
“The soldiers and the police were ordered to fire shots at anyone found on the streets on the Eve of the April 12 Commemoration, so that people could be be afraid to attend the protests,” she said.
Protests erupted in eSwatini ahead of the April 12, 1973 Decree Commemoration.