By Zweli Martin Dlamini

LOBAMBA:King Mswati an absolute Monarch has, through his sister Regional Administrator Princess Tsandzile, stopped an intended protest march to Parliament against the proposed electricity and water tariff increase.

The protest was organized by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) amid looming water and electricity tariffs increase, “a move that is being vigorously opposed by consumers”.

In a letter dated 4th December 2024,the Hhohho Regional Administrator stopped the proposed protest march citing a threat to National Security and the march was supposed to take place on Thursday morning.

“Following our meeting of today, 4th December 2024, and the submissions made therein regarding a gathering at Lobamba for the delivery of a petition to the Parliament. Please take note that your gathering is prohibited due to;It would not be in the best interest of either party to exercise such, as security would be compromised because of overstretched personnel to protect life and property”,reads the letter in part sent to the Convener of the protest within TUCOSWA.

But it has been disclosed that, the protest was stopped as it was considered a huge disturbance to the ongoing King’s Incwala ritual ceremony.

Reached for comments on Thursday evening, Regional Administrator Princess Tsandzile avoided to respond to questions when asked why the protest march was stopped but instead, he invited this journalist to attend the Incwala ritual ceremony.

“Kuncono ungitfumele ema-questions nangabe ungakhoni lokuta laNcwaleni”,said the Regional Administrator who later failed to respond to questions.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Thursday evening, Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA) first clarified that, it terms of the Public Order Act, anyone who intends to protest must notify the authorities about the gathering not to request the right to protest.

“But it seems in this country all legitimate efforts for the citizens to protest and even petition Parliament are sabotaged by the authorities”, said the TUCOSWA Secretary General.

Eswatini is an absolute Monarchy,citizens are not allowed to protest or deliver petition to the authorities and in June 2021, King Mswati allegedly unleashed soldiers, the police, Correctional Services officers and alleged mercenaries to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for, demanding democratic reforms.