Liqoqo member blasts pro-democracy group’s propaganda

By EDN Reporter

Liqoqo member Prince Nhlonipho has blasted some pro-democracy proponents who have twisted and distorted His Majesty the King’s speech when addressing Libutfo for political gains.

The King’s speech was delivered on the same Saturday Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko was gunned down at his home at KaLuhleko in the evening.

Some pro-democracy advocates have been quoted in various media outlets both within and outside the country suggesting that Maseko’s killing had to do with the King’s speech, who had made mention of the presence of ‘mercenaries’.

Prince Nhlonipho dismisses the notion that the King embraced the presence of mercenaries.

“The King never acknowledged the presence of mercenaries hired to harm or kill pro-democracy followers or activists. His Majesty alluded to the challenges of the previous year and warned emabutfo that we should see no repeat of such incidents as they are now in the past. The King warned against the use of young men who had been recruited by some groups to kill security officers and the citizens,” the prince said.

His Majesty in his speech which has been distorted to gain cheap political points throughout the world and in the SADC region by the rogue elements masquerading as pro-democracy forces encouraged the warriors to always be respectful since it is the Eswatini way of life.

He further explained that some people, violent extremists, have given themselves a licence to go around burning structures and killing people as if they have a licence and all these things must come to an end.

His Majesty further reminded everyone that the country’s peace and development would be stalled if everyone can join extremists and do as they pleased.

The pro-democracy right wings and the world however opted to neglect that part of His Majesty’s speech and instead twisted it when he said it was strange how when a country counters extremists, they run to their allies who are training them, leading them astray and equipping them with guns to cause havoc in the country. “In turn, they (the violent extremists) cry that the country has hired mercenaries and they are killing us, please save us”.

The Liqoqo member said anyone who associates the King with Maseko’s shooting is doing so to undermine the success of the Incwala ceremony which they had vowed would never happen.

“As emaSwati, we believe in dialogue and the violence we have experienced in the past years are foreign elements unfortunately perpetrated by people who claim to want change. We believe the law enforcement agents will do their job independently and reveal the people behind Maseko’s murder. We are grieving as a Nation when we witness such incidents. To us all lives matter, no one deserves to die,” the Liqoqo member said.

Both governments, the SADC Troika chairman and various diplomatic offices condemned the killing of Maseko and called for calm. Maseko was buried on Sunday at his parent’s home.