Police in Swaziland shot and wounded a schoolteacher
when they opened fire with live ammunition during a protest about salaries.
It happened on Friday (24 August 2018) in Manzini, the
kingdom’s main commercial city.
The teacher was named
on social media as Willie Dlamini, a teacher from Salesian High School.
The Observer on Saturday newspaper in Swaziland reported,
‘Several
gunshots were heard and bullets aimed directly at the teachers flew in all
directions while stones directed at the police officers also flew the opposite
direction.’
The Observer
reported, ‘Several gunshots were heard and bullets aimed directly at the teachers
flew in all directions while stones directed at the police officers also flew
the opposite direction.’
It added at least three armed police officers clashed with teachers.
The Observer reported on
Dlamini, ‘It was clear that a bullet had pierced through his arm and first aid
was administered to him before an ambulance was called to rush him to the
nearest hospital.’
Teachers were protesting
against the Swazi Government’s decision not to pay them a cost of living
adjustment on their salaries.
The shooting has raised tensions in Swaziland (recently
renamed Eswatini by the kingdom’s absolute monarch King Mswati III). It
happened the day before the first round of the
national election was due to take place. Political parties are banned from
taking part and the King appoints the Prime Minister and Government.
The Communist Party of Swaziland which previously called for a boycott
of the election in
a statement on social media said, ‘The country is
degenerating to unprecedented state of lawlessness. Political activists in
peaceful protests and those involve in daily mobilisation for Democratic change
are a target.’
In a separate
statement it also said, ‘It has now been brought to the attention of the
Communist Party of Swaziland that Mswati has issued an order that the police
must shoot anyone they suspect of trying to sabotage his sham elections.’
Schoolteacher Willie Dlamini who was shot and wounded by
police in Swaziland. Picture: Communist Party of Swaziland Facebook
See also
Police
Shoot Dead Another Man
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