By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Eswatini is facing a surge in Gender Based Violence(GBV) cases as Government refuses to prioritize the fight against domestic violence.

But women rights organizations have been urging the authorities to declare GBV a National Disaster however, Government sources told this publication that, the reluctance has been influenced by fears within the corridors of power that, doing so might tarnish the image of the country internationally that “is known as a peaceful and politically stable Kingdom”.

Domestic violence in eSwatini is allegedly perpetrated by various factors including patriarchy,cultural beliefs, inequality and/or financial and economic hardships among women.

As a result, some women are in alleged abusive relationships and marriages with no recourse amid lack of financial independence.

Women including young girls are raped, assaulted and killed in eSwatini, organizations within the civil society has been consistently reporting an increasing number or a surge in domestic violence cases.

On the other hand, the institution of the police appears to be struggling with resources including training to deal with GBV cases while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) under Lomvula Hlophe, has been demonstrating no tolerance on domestic violence by prioritizing GBV cases.

As a result, despite the struggle and the lack of a political will to fight GBV, some domestic violence cases were successfully prosecuted by the Office of the DPP.

Nonhlanhla Dlamini is the Executive Director of the Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse(SWAGAA) one of the leading women rights organizations in eSwatini.

Dlamini told this Swaziland News earlier that, their consistent plea for the declaration of GBV as a National Disaster was merely meant to amplify the voices against domestic violence, thus creating a foundation for a vibrant advocacy drive locally and at international level to influence the allocation of resources to fight Gender Based Violence(GBV).

“Once Government declare GBV a National Disaster, resources will be allocated by Government, the private sector and even the international community  will support the eradication of Gender Based Violence in eSwatini. You will recall that when the country was facing the escalating new HIV infections, even the King amplified the call to fight HIV/AIDS by declaring the virus a National Disaster, he said “Lena indzaba yetfu sonkhe”. The whole country was united to fight HIV and we were able to mitigate the spread of HIV”, said the SWAGAA Director.

But on Monday during the launch of the sixteen(16) Days of Activism against GBV, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) joined other human rights organizations in a march against GBV at Mhlaleni in the outskirts of Matsapha, this was during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

Thulisile Dladla, the Deputy Prime Minister had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday evening,Colani Hlatjwako, the One Billion Rising Africa Coordinator confirmed that, eSwatini “is facing a surge” adding that, the GBV cases reported by the print and online media does not even amount to a quarter(1/4) of what “is happening” on the ground.

“It is for these reasons we are appealing to Government to declare GBV a National Disaster so that we can collectively fight Gender Based Violence and resources will be allocated by the Government, private sector and even the international community”, said the One Billion Rising Africa Coordinator.