SADC SENDS FACT-FINDING TEAM TO ESWATINI

MBABANE – Today, a team of ministers from the SADC region is expected to arrive in the country with a view to ensure that a process of national dialogue is entered into to bring to an end the ongoing social and political unrest.

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, in his capacity as Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, issued a statement on Friday stating that the regional body was concerned with reports of violent disturbances in the Kingdom of Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III is a former chairperson of this organ and during his tenure he played a great role in restoring peace in countries that include Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The country even played host to former Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana, who had been ousted by Andre Rajoelina.

Interestingly, government yesterday issued its own statement saying it had since invited the Masisi-led organ, which is popularly known as Troika, on a fact-finding mission ‘following the current obtaining situation in the country’. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla when asked if this was an intervention by SADC or an invitation from government to SADC for intervention said: “It is an invitation by the Kingdom of Eswatini to this organ not for intervention but for a fact-finding mission. The government would like them to come and find out exactly what is going on.”

we invited them - Thuli

When this journalist brought it to her attention that SADC had already issued its own statement earlier announcing that a team was being sent to come to Eswatini, the minister said this regional body had not communicated anything to them so far “but we have invited them to come and carry out a fact-finding mission. We have invited Troika not SADC as a whole,” the minister insisted. Meanwhile, Masisi, in his statement, said the violent disturbances had resulted in widespread destruction of property, injuries to people, with at least one death reported. “SADC also notes with concern, the disruption to normal personal, community and daily economic activities, including critical government COVID-19 response strategies, which are essential for the health and safety of the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and the entire humanity,” he said.

He said SADC called upon all individuals, groups and organisations that had grievances to desist from acts of violence, while also urging the security services to exercise restraint in their response to restore order and normalcy. “SADC also urges all stakeholders to channel their grievances through the established national structures, and the authorities to have an open national dialogue, in order to continue upholding the legacy of peace and stability that has characterised the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and the region at large,” Masisi said. He then added by mentioning that the SADC Organ, Troika, was urgently dispatching a team of ministers to the kingdom ‘with a view to further encourage the kingdom to find a lasting solution’.

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