MBABANE: Properties worth over R10million allegedly linked to King Mswati,were destroyed by members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) in one night.
The operations commenced on Sunday evening until the early hours on Monday,various places were visited by the Solidarity Forces.
It has been disclosed that the properties include sugarcane trucks that were burnt at Mzimpofu and Duze at around 10pm, Hhelehhele complex shops, Ok Foods Mathangeni,Mhlaleni and other properties.
This comes after Mswati allegedly killed dozens of civilians for demanding democratic reforms and went on to establish a Re-construction Fund for businesses linked to him without engaging in a political dialogue,Ok Foods and the Sugar Company are linked to the King.
Reached for comments, the Commander of the Solidarity Forces confirmed that it was a night of operations.
“We can confirm that it was a indeed a night of operations,we are targeting all businesses that are not supporting the calls for democracy.Our campaign is meant to ensure that,our incarcerated Members of Parliament(MPs) and all political prisoners, including those arrested under the fabricated charges of terrorism,are released,”said the Commander of the Solidarity Forces.
An exclusive video in possession of this Swaziland News suggests that the Solidarity Forces allegedly hijacked a car on Sunday night and used it in the operations, the driver is heard pleading with the forces to be released.
A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments,Johannes Manikela,the Chairperson of the Federation of Eswatini Business Community(FESBC) in the Hhohho region said as businesspeople, they were suffering the most in the midst of the political unrest.
“As businesspeople, we are losing properties and struggling in the midst of the political unrest and we don’t understand what is delaying the political dialogue. Our businesses were affected by the COVID-19 and the June 2021 unrest and now, at the time when we were recovering, another unrest has erupted. We continue to appeal for a political dialogue from the country’s authorities,even if you can say you are not interested in politics, what is happening now affects everyone,” said the FESBC Chairperson.
Eswatini in the midst of a political unrest after King Mswati unleashed his soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.
The King subsequently prioritized the re-construction of businesses linked to him without compensating the unrest victims or resolving the political problem that caused the unrest.
On another note, the Commander of the Solidarity Forces warned truck owners that operations of all trucks will now end at 8pm, adding that trucks to be found on the road in the middle of the night would be burnt.
A truck was burnt along the road.