Madam,

African countries are slowly becoming sanctuaries for some of the vilest crimes. In recent years, the continent has fallen victim to the widely operated ‘pig-butchering’ scams; global schemes that have terrorised nations for decades. What is most disturbing is the staggering amount of money lost by countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. Now, the Kingdom of Eswatini finds itself linked to this network, with several foreign nationals arrested for their alleged involvement. Editor, allow me to share my views on these arrests, the possible thinking behind such criminal activities and what this means for our country. That being said, I stand firmly with humanity.

Eswatini is known as one of the most peaceful countries, respected for its rich culture, strong values and vibrant celebrations. It is a country where respect is not just taught but lived. Perhaps that very peace is now being taken advantage of. Criminals do not always operate in chaos; sometimes, they seek calm environments where their actions can go unnoticed. In that sense, Eswatini risks becoming a sanctuary.

The country is not new to such cases. Recently, a Mainland Chinese national known as ‘Tiger’, believed to be a key figure in the global scam network, was arrested here alongside other foreign nationals. This is not an isolated incident, but part of a growing pattern of international criminals finding their way into the country.

This raises difficult but necessary questions. Is it because our borders are too easy to cross? Is corruption playing a role among officials?

Or are we simply not equipped, technologically and institutionally, to deal with such sophisticated crimes? The answers may vary, but one truth is becoming clear: It is increasingly easy to conduct criminal activities in this country. At the same time, Eswatini has seen a rise in violent crimes, particularly bank robberies. In a recent case, suspects from neighbouring South Africa were arrested, reportedly working with local accomplices. With growing gun violence and organised crime, one must ask: What does this say about our security and the peaceful image we proudly hold?

For a country with a population of just over 1.2 million, these levels of crime are alarming. Government must take stronger and more decisive action before this situation escalates further.

It is important to understand that some of these crimes are not random. They are part of multi-billion-Dollar global operations that deliberately target countries perceived as lenient or vulnerable. Eswatini’s peaceful nature, combined with socio-economic challenges and corruption, may unintentionally make it attractive to such syndicates. Despite being a small nation, our development should be competing with that of other small but thriving economies. Instead, more than half of our population continues to live in poverty. This creates an environment that criminals can easily exploit.

That said, I acknowledge and applaud the efforts of law enforcement. Under His Majesty’s call to fight corruption, particularly through initiatives like the ‘nkwe’ mandate, we are beginning to see progress. Arrests are being made and criminal networks are being disrupted.

However, more must be done. Eswatini is a beautiful country, a living ecosystem that deserves to thrive both economically and socially. It should not become a hiding place for criminals who tarnish its reputation on the global stage.

Respect is a core value of this nation. It defines who we are. Now is the time to protect that identity and ensure that our peace is not turned into a weakness. Madam, I stand firmly with humanity and Eswatini as my homeland.

African countries are slowly becoming sanctuaries for some of the vilest crimes.