King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch came to power in 1986
MBABANE, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The army have been deployed in the tiny southern African nation of Eswatini after pro-democracy activists started a protest demanding constitutional reforms.
Reports indicate that protesters are calling for reforms which include changes seeking that the monarchy be dismantled in favour of a more democratic dispensation.
The media reports that protests by mainly young people intensified over the weekend, despite a government ban on all demonstrations.
Eswatini has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew amid pro-democracy protests that have rocked the country for three consecutive days.
Activists have promised to intensify demonstrations demanding democratic reforms and the lifting of bans on all opposition parties in the country.
Videos of people burning tires and barricading streets in the largest city, Manzini, and the central town of Matsapha have been circulating on social media.
“Unfortunately, the protests we are seeing of late have been hijacked by criminal elements. Such cannot be acceptable under any circumstances,” acting prime minister Themba Masuku said in a statement on Tuesday.
To quell the unrest the government ordered all businesses to close by 3:30pm (13.30GMT) and a strict curfew to have all residents off the streets from 6pm until 5 am. Schools were told to close immediately.
South Africa’s state broadcaster reported that King Mswati may have fled the country amid the protests but the Eswatini government via an official statement posted on Twitter dismissed the claim.
“…His Majesty King Mswati III is in the country and continues to lead in working with Government to advance the Kingdom’s goals,” the statement signed by Masuku read in part.
He called for “calm, restraint and peace,” saying the government would update the nation on the government’s “interventions on the current situation”.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is the last country in Africa with an absolute monarchy. — NNN-AGENCIES
