MBABANE:King Mswati,an absolute Monarch,has included children as young as thirteen(13) years in his political agenda to maintain the ruling oppressive Tinkhundla system of Governance while refusing to embrace political inclusion by allowing political parties to participate in elections.
Political parties are banned in eSwatini and human rights defenders are killed for demanding democracy.
The King dispersed emaButfo on Saturday and members of the regiments including children known as Ingatja,were paid One Thousand Rands(R1000) each for participating in the annual Incwala ritual ceremony.
Addressing eMabutfo,the King warned the regiments not to sing some of the Incwala songs except during the ceremony.
“You must not sing these Incwala songs anyhow and anywhere, these songs have significant meaning”, said the King.
It has been disclosed that,apart from the political songs,Incwala songs include those that are believed to be ‘connecting’ the Throne with royal ancestors,the King strongly warned that these songs must be respected.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News,Brian Sangweni, the National Spokesperson of eSwatini’s leading and largest political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) says, what is being done by Mswati amounts to children abuse.
“Even before we speak about Incwala or culture being used for political reasons,we must understand that,this amounts to children abuse. These children are being manipulated to sing political songs,mock political activists and journalists. You will recall that the then Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku raised a voice when children attended the Swaziland Youth Congress(SWAYOCO) rally last year but now, we are seeing children being forced to attend Incwala and sing political songs.We must condemn the royal culture that divides the Nation because we need to understand that, this is royal or Mswati’s culture.The real Eswatini culture was there before the existence of royalty and it unites us as a Nation,” said the PUDEMO National Spokesperson.
After participating in the Incwala ceremony, some of the children were seen in videos counting their money paid to them my Mswati.
”The King loves us, who on earth can give you R1000”, said one of the children.
Children counting their monies presented to them by Mswati.