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MBABANE.  — The government of the Kingdom of eSwatini has denied as false the media reports circulating that King Mswati III has fled the country as pro-democracy protests turned chaotic on Monday night.

According to media reports citing the Communist Party of Swaziland, King Mswati was hiding in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Acting Prime Minister Themba N Masuku said in a statement: “ I would like to take this opportunity to assure emaSwati and the international community that His Majesty King Mswati is in the country and continues to lead in working with Government to advance the Kingdom’s goals.

“Government will update the nation on interventions on the current situation as the day progresses.”

Masuku appealed for calm, restraint and peace.  Mswati’s special jet reportedly left eSwatini on Monday night, but the king was reported to have left earlier and was believed to be in Sandton, north of Johannesburg.

Businesses reportedly owned by the king were torched in Matsapha.

According to a report by news website Swaziland News, quoting a leader of the ongoing pro-democracy protest, government buildings and the king’s properties were to be burnt down starting yesterday.

This was after Masuku issued an order suspending delivery of memorandums to Tinkhundla with immediate effect last week.

“It has become apparent that this exercise has created a breeding ground for anarchy and has been intentionally hijacked to sow seeds of division,” Masuku said in a statement.

“This is in complete disregard of public safety, the rule of law and Covid-19 regulations. We are alive to public concerns of lack of adequate jobs and service delivery anxieties, among others, which are by and large a global concern…However, what we are seeing of late are elements who have hijacked these concerns to further their own agenda, mainly to shake the foundations that define this country with an intention to achieve regime change.”

He said the government remained receptive to all concerns raised by the public through the appropriate forums and in full compliance with the law.

“Our constitution guarantees freedom of expression and fully embraces orderly consultation and engagement.”

Social media platforms were flooded with images of burning shops on Monday night.

King Mswati’s children were seen in one video, mocking people demanding democracy in eSwatini.

Government forces fired gunshots and teargas yesterday to break up protests, witnesses said.

Security forces set up road blocks to prevent access by some vehicles to the capital, Mbabane. Some banks said they had shut until the unrest – which started on the weekend and turned violent overnight – subsides.

“I can hear gunshots and smell teargas. I do not know how I will get home, there is nothing in the bus rank, there is a strong presence of riot police and the army,” Vusi Madalane, a shop assistant in Mbabane, said by telephone.

Masuku said a curfew had been imposed from 6pm until 5am, and that schools had been ordered to close. This was to curb “violence in several parts of the country perpetuated by an unruly crowd”, he said.

“The military is on the streets,” said Lucky Lukhele, spokesman for the pro-democracy grouping Swaziland Solidarity Network. 

“Yesterday was the worst night ever, where a young man was shot point-blank by the army, and some are in hospital as we speak.” — African News Agency.