By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Calls for peace at Gege-Mbondzela must be amplified by a compensation for senior citizen Mciniseli Nhleko and the Mdluli family, whose homes were unlawfully destroyed by the capitalists backed by King Mswati’s corrupt and oppressive Government.

Firstly, let me thank senior members of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO), the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS) and the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF)Swaziland for their efforts in consistently prioritizing the plight of the Gege residents.

The decision by Government to stop the evictions was through the efforts of these political activists who are working tirelessly to free emaSwati from the hands of the oppressor.

Indeed, without the noise and symptoms suggesting changes in the political climate, this regime wouldn’t have rushed to Gege-Mbondzela to address the issue of the evictions.

This government will do anything to present another political unrest from erupting, public figures went through the most painful times in that period.

But the government was very strategic this time by running to Gege Mbondzela to defuse the escalating tension before it could spread to other areas, indeed,the land issue might eventually cause a civil war in this country.

As mentioned in my previous articles,building a home or a decent house like that of elderly Mciniseli Nhleko is not easy.

It is for these reasons we have employed individuals who might retire or die without owning a house.

But under difficult conditions and in a country where poverty is manufactured by the Government through oppression, Mciniseli Nhleko managed to built a decent home for his family,including children and grandchildren only for politically connected capitalists to demolish it in a few minutes and with impunity.

Now that the Government through Natural Resources Ministry Prince Lonkhokhela has admitted that, the demolitions were unlawful and without a court order, Mciniseli Nhleko and the Mdluli family must be compensated.

As journalists, we won’t allow this matter to just fade away from the public discourse without reasonable compensation for the victims,doing so would mean we have politically romanced this regime, then closed the door and left at the time when it was about to climax.

The context and climax of this issue is to advocate for justice and this include compensation for the victims, stopping the evictions without compensation would mean,the matter remain unresolved.

Alternately,those residents must be provided with land and decent houses with electricity and grazing land.

The earlier statement issued by Government through Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo was reckless.

Even though the statement was issued by a ‘drunkard’ whose reputation has been tainted, it was a demonstration that, this is a government of capitalists that protects the interests of the rich, powerful and politically connected.

After all, the ‘drunkard’ speaks on behalf of Government and we have a reason to believe that,he consulted widely before issuing that statement.

But now that Cabinet has demonstrated willingness to address the issue,we applaud the decision to stop the eviction and appeal for peace at Gege-Mbondzela as Government deliberate on the matter.