GBV PETITION DELIVERY: RUDE WELCOME FOR MDM AT DPM’S OFFICE

MBABANE – Members of the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) received a rude welcome at the DPM’s Office, where they had gone to deliver a petition.

This follows the death of five people in just a space of one week, as a result of gender-based violence (GBV). About two weeks ago, four women were shot and killed, allegedly by a deputy sheriff, at Goje Township in Ezulwini. The bodies of the four women were found piled up inside a pantry, where it was suspected they were trying to hide from their assailant. In another incident, Nosipho Dube was allegedly shot by her husband, who later turned the gun on himself at Ngwane Park last week Friday. A 20-year-old woman is also lucky to be alive after she was doused with petrol and set alight, allegedly by her boyfriend.   

Concerns

The members of the MDM were locked outside the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office, where they expressed their concerns over the escalating GBV-related deaths while standing outside the gate. This was during the petition delivery against GBV in the country, where members of the MDM called for it to be declared a national disaster.  
The Office of the DPM demanded an instrument that allowed the MDM members access into their premises, as they said they had not received any communiqué related to the visit. Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) Chairperson Lucky Dlamini said the reception at the DPM’s Office was not humane and showed lack of respect among those in leadership.

Appointment

Dlamini said they had made an appointment with the office. “We wrote them a letter and there was constant communication with the office, which was aware of our visit,” said the chairperson. He said they were not expecting the rude reception by officers at the DPM’s Office. He said there was no reason at all for the office to lock them out, as they had more than enough security to maintain peace and calm. The chairperson said it was as if there was no understanding of leadership, which was connecting with the people. Dlamini said there should be no disconnect, something which portrayed the culture that there was no government responsible to account to the people. He said the people then became hostile.  

Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) Deputy Secretary General Zodwa Mkhonta said they were shocked to be told to produce a permit to enter the DPM’s Office premises, in their own country. Mkhonta said they were rendered useless, while important people who owned the area were the DPM’s Office employees. She said; “We are watching and want people to account for their actions.”

Mkhonta said Eswatini belonged to all emaSwati and there was no ‘special’ person than the other. She said they did not require any instrument to visit a public office. Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) Acting Secretary General Paul Ramza Matimela said they were disgusted in the manner the Office of the DPM continued to handle issues of GBV. Matimela said as an organisation, they did not find the death of women, at the hands of men, a good thing.

This, he said, made them believe that there were no men. He said they took what was currently happening as signs of a sick government. Matimela said there was only one solution for Eswatini, which was an inclusive dialogue, which would include political parties to participate fully in politics and policies, which will change their lives. He assured everyone that GBV would continue if the dialogue did not happen.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: