A pressing human rights issue in Eswatini

Friday, August 29, 2025 | 30 Views |

I am writing to bring to your attention a pressing human rights issue in Eswatini that exemplifies the systemic abuses faced by ordinary citizens under local traditional authorities.

Our current case involves Mbongeni Mamba from Macetjeni, who has recently lost his employment at the Central Bank and is now being forced to pay a fine of five cattle. The circumstances are deeply troubling: his only “offence” was refusing to be extorted by the local water-party (Bemanti).

These are people who go about performing rituals around the country’s villages – a disturbing practice for Christians.

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