LOBAMBA: Church leaders affiliated to the Swaziland Concerned Church Leaders(SCCL), in collaboration with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace marched to eSwatini Parliament on Monday, they are demanding a political dialogue.
Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest, King Mswati has been refusing to participate in a political dialogue despite consistent demands from the Mass Democratic Movement(MDM) and the international community.
Father Mhazule of the Catholic Church who delivered the petition on behalf of the church leaders said the petition comes after,as church leaders,held a meeting on the 2nd October 2022, at the Catholic Centre in Manzini.
“Over the past year in our country, killings have become part of our ordinary lives. It is becoming more and more apparent that as a country, we have to choose the path of death than that of life,” said Father Mhazule when reading the petition delivered in Parliament.
Bishop Kenani Mathabela,the Chairperson of the Swaziland Concerned Church Leaders(SCCL) said there cannot be any progress if people refused to engage in talks or dialogue among themselves and resolve differences.
The march by the religious leaders comes in the midst of political motivated killings and burning of properties.Despite the political pressure, Mswati states categorically that he would not dialogue with protestors,he labelled protesting Swazis as dagga smokers.
Chief Prince Mahloma,a close relative of Mswati was held hostage by Solidarity Forces and killed as tension escalates in this tiny Kingdom.
The killing of the Prince comes after Mswati unleashed his security forces to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.
Church leaders march to Parliament as King Mswati refuses to participate in a political dialogue.