There was no let-up Wednesday in violent pro-democracy protests in Eswatini, where protesters reacted to the shutting down of the internet by torching a brewery.
Swazi News reports that under cover of darkness protesters burnt Eswatini Brewery to the ground. The brewery is said to be owned by King Mswati III.
Running battles between the army and protesters continue with unverified reports saying at least five people had been shot dead.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in South Africa said it salutes the youth and the people of Eswatini for their militant revolution against the last remaining absolute monarch in Africa.
“We call on the people of Eswatini to boldly intensify the militant struggle against this despotic dictatorial family,” said the EFF in a statement on Twitter.
The king, who has 15 wives, is a big spender – he has two jets, a fleet of luxury vehicles and individual palaces for each queen.
As an accessory to his traditional attire, the king makes sure to wear an expensive wrist watch like his Rolex Day-Date in 18K Yellow Gold priced around R570 000.
Protesters are angry at the extravagant King and his government.
Poor people are fed up and they want more for themselves. State workers earn a minimum wage of R1000/month and the elderly a monthly grant of R400.
The king’s children posted a video on social media mocking protesters. The video went viral and further angered the protesters.
On Tuesday night the US Embassy In Eswatini said all flights to the troubled kingdom had been suspended amid escalating pro-democracy protests.
“The government of Eswatini has announced a curfew from 6pm to 5am effective immediately,” said the statement issued by the US embassy.
“Civil arrest continues in Eswatini, including the burning and looting of stores, cars, and businesses”.
The embassy said all flights out of KMIII International Airport are suspended until further notice.
Internet services were expected to be degraded after service providers were ordered to shut down. WhatsApp was likely to be affected, the embassy warned.
After a day of drama in which South African media – EWN and SABC – reported that King Mswati III had fled his country, the kingdom’s 53-year-old royal rejected the reports as false.
He tweeted: “I have not run away. Am still in my Kingdom #KingMswati #eSwatini“
The EFF of Swaziland said the military and police had been deployed.
Rights bodies have raised concerns about the use of the military to put down the protests.
A video was trending of a fuel station that was said to have been set alight by protesters involved in running battles with the army.
With no end in sight to the violent protests, schools have been ordered to close immediately.
