Image: Briefly

Faizel Patel – 01/072021

The editor of Swaziland News says the eSwatini government has shut down internet connectivity in the kingdom to control the information that is reaching the global community.

The protests which erupted about four weeks ago was sparked by reports of police brutality, but later manifested into demands for democratic reforms.

The citizens are demanding that King Mswati III who is an absolute monarch and above the law hand power over to the people.

Speaking to Radio Islam Zweli Martin Dlamini says there is widespread chaos in Swaziland.

“eSwatini is burning and the internet has been shutdown for the past two days. Sometimes the government will reconnect it maybe for one hour and later disconnect it. So it’s a complete chaos and for now it’s a complete struggle to even reach our sources, but we are trying to make sure that we provide information as accurately as possible.’

Martin Dlamini says King Mswati III is nowhere to be found.

“We have reported that he fled the country, but the government is disputing this saying that he is still in eSwatini. The information that we have is that he fled the country. By now if he was in eSwatini he should have addressed the nation.”

Martin Dlamini says security forces are part of the criminals elements being opportunistic and looting while the legitimate protests continue, adding that soldiers, police beating and killing people.

The Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) on Wednesday said at least 21 people have been allegedly killed by eSwatini’s security forces during the pro-democracy protests.

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Listen to the interview with Zweli Martin Dlamini