MBABANE:King Mswati allegedly called an urgent meeting with his advisory Swazi National Council(SNC)after members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) killed Prince Mahloma,the Chief of kaZandondo.
The meeting was held at Lobamba on Saturday evening and was attended by among others, Liqoqo Chairman Paul Dlamini, Chief Mdlaka Gamedze of the Ludzidzini Council and other senior members of the royal councils.
It has been disclosed that after the killing of Chief Prince Mahloma, a close relative of Mswati,the King was furious and ordered members of the Royal Councils to meet and come-up with solutions on how to deal with what he described as insurgents.
When this Swaziland News tried to seek a comment from some members of the Royal Councils who were present during the meeting, they referred questions to King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane.
Reached for comments, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane referred comments to Liqoqo Chairman Paul Dlamini.
“Am not aware of the meeting in question.I was neither informed about it nor invited to it.If it involved members of the SNC then the Chairman is better positioned to respond,”said the King’s Spokesperson.
But a royal insider very close to the matter told this publication that the King ordered the Councils to work with government and the army and stage roadblocks across the country and apprehend members of the Solidarity Forces.
“The King was very angry after the killing of Chief Mahloma,he ordered Councils to then work with Cabinet and the army to ensure that roadblocks are staged across the country.He stated categorically that he wants only soldiers in the roadblocks not the police, utsi emaphoyisa sekangenwe ngumoya walaba,”said the royal insider.
Laba is a siSwati word used by Mswati when referring to those calling for democratic reforms, it is understood only by those close to the King when he communicates certain orders.
Reached for comments, human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) said measures adopted by the King outside the proposed political dialogue will not restore peace and stability in the country.
“The King is exposing the police, whether it’s the police, soldiers or warders who would be staging the roadblocks, he is exposing those security officers to harm because we have seen some of them being killed. Whatever that the King or the government can do outside the dialogue will not bring peace and stability in the country,” said the MultiStakeholder Forum Chairperson.
Efforts to reach Liqoqo Chairman Paul Dlamini proved unsuccessful as his phone rang unanswered.
Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest after the King unleashed his soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians for demanding democratic reforms.
The killing of civilians resulted to the establishment of the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) that is now targeting high profile people linked to Mswati and his security officers.
On Sunday evening, the Solidarity Forces destroyed Mswati linked properties worth over R10million, they are demanding democratic reforms.
On another note, it has been disclosed that the Royal Councils resolved to call a press conference within the next hours after concluding the meeting and operational strategies.
King Mswati.