What Christian Leaders in Southern Africa have Gathered about Eswatini’s Ongoing Unrest

On 12 April 1973, the late King Sobhuza II reportedly revoked the Independence Constitution of Swaziland and assumed supreme power in the Kingdom.

In their November 4 statement, FOCCISA members who include Christian leaders from Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Tanzania say the main reason for the protests "is the demand for democracy."

They add that the protests have also been triggered by the poor management of the economy of the Africa’s only absolute monarchy.  

In the statement presented at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral of Manzini Diocese, the Christian leaders express concern about the use of force to dismiss pro-democracy protesters.  

"The state apparatus were rather heavy handed in the way that they handled the protesters, resulting in loss of precious lives and injuries, which have resulted in some permanent disabilities of the victims and the incarceration of others who have now gone for months without trial," they say. 

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The faith-based leaders further note that many Emaswati children "are not in school due to these unrests and that some of the children are heavily traumatized by the experiences during the unrests."

"Many children are also reported to be absent from home and may have skipped the country into the neighboring nations where they are under various influences,” they say, and add, "It is not normal, even with COVID, that children are out of school for this long period of time." 

They add that the violence has had a detrimental effect on Eswatini’s economy by "setting back efforts made at employment creation and providing the means of livelihood for the people of the kingdom."

FOCISSA members "unequivocally" condemn all uses of violence to address the ongoing unrest in Eswatini and call upon all the stakeholders to find solutions to the Southern African country’s challenges. 

They acknowledge the fact that there seems to be willingness on the part of both the government and the pro-democracy groups to engage in a dialogue aimed at finding solutions to the crisis. 

For this reason, FOCISSA members urge the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and SADC Troika, the regional body's security organ, "to make a firm commitment to the dialogue process, to give it the seriousness it requires, to treat it with the urgency, transparency and integrity that is needed and to create an enabling environment to ensure that the dialogue takes place in an environment where no one is intimidated."

Last month, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, political parties and citizens in Eswatini rejected King Mswati III’s invitation to discuss the ongoing political crisis in the country at an annual national general meeting known as Sibaya. 

The representatives under the Swaziland Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF) said the Sibaya "is not an appropriate venue for an inclusive dialogue."    

 FOCISSA members pledge "to collaborate with the Swaziland Council of Churches to provide solidarity and support to the various stakeholders in the dialogue to ensure that they are adequately empowered for the dialogue and what follows after. "

On October 27, Bishop Victor Phalana of South Africa’s Klerksdrop Diocese said there is need for the parties in the Eswatini conflict to engage notable mediators and negotiators in order to reach “an acceptable agreement.”  

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Bishop Phalana explained that engaging renowned negotiators and mediators would save the parties in Eswatini’s conflict from sliding into what he termed “dirty tricks” and dishonesty. 

“We don't use dirty tricks but we become open and honest with each other when we search for a settlement that can benefit the people of Emaswati especially the poorest of the poor,” the South African Bishop said.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.