There are ‘widespread
speculations’ across Swaziland that a number of recent abductions resulting in
mutilations and killings might be related to the ongoing national election in
the kingdom, the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) said.
SWAGAA said, ‘Children,
both girls and boys, are especially targeted; however, this does not mean
adults cannot be a target in future. For this reason, all people should remain
on high alert.’
It said in a statement, ‘The fact that there are widespread speculations
on whether or not these abductions are for ritual purposes linked to the
upcoming Parliamentary elections in Eswatini [Swaziland] cannot be ignored.’
Swaziland has a history of
abductions and ritual killings in the run-up to national elections that are
held every five years. Voter registration is currently taking place and ends on
17 June 2018. The date for the actual election has yet to be announced.
In June 2017, during a
voter-education workshop, Swaziland’s Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC)
called for an end to ritual killings around voting time. It was concerned about
reports of people mysteriously disappearing across the kingdom.
At KaLanga in the
Lugongolweni constituency EBC educator Cynthia Dlamini said ritual murder
reports increased during election time. The Swazi Observer reported at the time, ‘Dlamini said this was one belief
driven by lunacy which tarnishes the image of the country in the process. She
said the commission condemns such beliefs and called for intensive
investigations against those who would be suspected of ritual killings.’
At the last election in
2013, The Swaziland Epilepsy Association warned that cases of the abduction of
epileptic people always increased during elections. Mbuso Mahlalela from the association told the Swazi Observer at
the time it was common for the vulnerable to be targeted and abducted. He spoke
after a report that a 13-year-old epileptic boy might have been abducted for
ritual purposes.
Before the election in 2008 a march by civil society groups to draw attention to ritual killings was banned by the government amid fears that it would bring bad publicity to Swaziland and might embarrass King Mswati III, the kingdom’s absolute monarch, who had spoken out against the practice.
Before the election in 2008 a march by civil society groups to draw attention to ritual killings was banned by the government amid fears that it would bring bad publicity to Swaziland and might embarrass King Mswati III, the kingdom’s absolute monarch, who had spoken out against the practice.
The Times of Swaziland reported at the time the march had been
motivated by the mystery disappearances and murders of women. Some of these had been found mutilated fuelling speculating that they
were related to rituals.
Some Swazi people believe
body parts can be used as ‘muti’ which is used to bring good fortune to
candidates at the election and help them to win seats in parliament.
In 2008, it was strongly
rumoured in Swaziland that the reason why members of the government wanted to
ban discussion on the ritual murders was that some of them had themselves used
‘muti’ to get elected.
In March 2018, a campaign
called ‘Don’t kill us, we are human beings too’ was launched to raise awareness
about people with albinism, a group at particular risk at election time. The Stukie Motsa Foundation is using social media to dispel the false belief
that people with albinism cleanse bad luck and bring fortune to people.
There have been concerns in
Swaziland for years that people with albinism have been targeted and murdered.
Witchdoctors use the body parts to make spells that they claim bring people
good luck. Sport teams have also been
known to use spells to bring them good fortune during matches. Witchdoctors’
services are especially sought after by candidates contesting parliamentary and
local elections.
In January 2017, the Director of Public Prosecution’s office in
Swaziland told witchdoctors in the
kingdom to stop murdering people for body parts. The witchdoctors, also known
as tinyanga, were advised to go to the Ministry of Health for body parts, such
as bones.
During the national
elections in Swaziland in 2013, people with albinism lived in fear that their
body parts would be harvested by candidates seeking good luck.
Independent Newspapers in
South Africa reported at the time, ‘In the past [people with albinism], who lack the
skin pigment melanin, as well as epileptics have been specifically targeted,
prompting the police to set up registries.
‘In 2010, the killing and
mutilation of [people with albinism], including in one instance the
decapitation of two children in Nhlangano, prompted panic.’
In August 2013, Independent Newspapers quoted an academic at the University of Swaziland, who
did not want to be named, saying, ‘Ritual killings to achieve elected office
are a natural outgrowth of a government based not on rationality or democratic
principles but on superstitious beliefs.
‘The Swazi king claims
power through an annual Incwala festival where a bull is brutally sacrificed
and mysterious rituals occur, and this sets the tone. No one knows how
office-holders are appointed in Swaziland. It’s all done in secret, without
recourse to merit or any rhyme or reason, so this fuels irrational
beliefs.
‘Ritual murder has long
been part of Swazi life.’
See also
PEOPLE WITH ALBINISM WANT PROTECTION
‘MPs USE WITCHCRAFT FOR SUCCESS’
ELECTION: ‘RITUAL MURDERS WILL RISE’
SWAZI GOVT BANS MURDERS MARCH
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