Manzini, 05 November, 2022 / 8:56 pm (ACI Africa).
The Commission for Justice and Peace (CJPC) in Eswatini’s only Catholic Diocese of Manzini has denounced violence taking place amid political instability in the Southern Africa kingdom.
Officials of CJPC Manzini who emphasize the need to have an “all-inclusive and meaningful” talks to address the political instability that began last year say recent events such as King Mswati III’s comment telling police officers meet fire with fire to deal with targeted attacks “appear to give the impression that the leadership seems to be reneging on the promise for a full inclusive dialogue.”
“We denounce the arrest, victimization, brutalization and criminalization of the voices calling for political reforms. We also denounce all crimes committed in the name of the security of the State, as if the State were absolute and not at the service of the people,” CJPC officials say in a Wednesday, November 2 statement.
They say the Emaswati government needs to allow the largest number of citizens to take part in the nation’s public life. The Emaswati also need to decide how they wish to be governed, CJPC officials add.
Officials of Eswatini’s lone Catholic Diocese also condemn violence and “elements of criminality”, including the attack on security forces.
