Protests have rocked eSwatini over the past few days to weeks with calls for King Mswati III to abdicate the throne in favor of a democratic system. The protests have led to untold violence supposedly by security forces in an effort to stem the tide as disclosed by the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights.
Uniformed men were reportedly deployed to Matsapha in the dead of the night, schools and businesses have been shut and the mobile carriers are no longer effective. Also, warrants of arrest have been issued for Members of Parliament leading the protests.
The protests evolved from an initial protest of the death of a law student, Thabani Nkomonye whose corpse was found mysteriously but widely alleged as evidence of police brutality by students.
The unfortunate demise of Thabani gave rise to the#JusticeForThabani hashtag which has now evolved to a broader call for political change. Several took to the streets calling on the Royal family to make way for democratic reform and provide employment opportunities.
The requests do not stop there, the protesters are also calling for an end to royal supremacy and curbing the extravagance of the royal family. Grievances on poor infrastructure and a dilapidated health care system have been listed as culprits for the wide dissatisfaction.
eSwatini is one of the last remaining absolute monarchies and the current King, Mswati III has reigned since he was 18 years of age. Although elections take place in the landlocked kingdom, the Prime Minister and legislators are mostly appointed into parliament, while House of Assembly members are typically voted in.
Will the King really give up his monarchy?