CALLS FOR CALM ARE NOT ENOUGH: EMASWATI DESERVE ANSWERS AFTER FATAL SHOOTING BY SECURITY FORCES

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has urged emaSwati to remain calm following the fatal shooting of Slindile Dlamini of Ka-Bhekinkhosi during a joint operation involving the Royal Eswatini Police Service and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF).

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Prime Minister expressed condolences to the family, friends, and relatives of the deceased and confirmed that investigations into the shooting were underway. He appealed to the public to be patient and allow investigative processes to proceed without interference.

“Government assures the Nation that investigations into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy are currently underway,” said the Prime Minister. “We appeal to the public to exercise patience and allow the investigative processes to proceed with the confidence that the matter will be handled with the seriousness, fairness, and diligence it deserves.”

While condolences are important, many emaSwati are increasingly asking a more fundamental question: how many times have citizens been told to remain calm while waiting for answers that never come?

The death of Slindile Dlamini is not occurring in a vacuum. It comes against a backdrop of longstanding concerns regarding the conduct of security forces, accountability, and the relationship between the state and ordinary citizens. Whenever a civilian dies during an operation involving police or soldiers, the public has every right to demand transparency, accountability, and justice.

The Prime Minister is asking citizens to trust the system. However, trust is not built through statements alone. Trust is built through action.

For years, families affected by alleged abuses involving security forces have been promised investigations. Yet many cases remain unresolved, while victims and their relatives continue searching for answers. This history makes it difficult for citizens to simply accept assurances without questioning whether meaningful accountability will follow.

The tragedy also raises broader concerns about the growing role of military forces in civilian affairs. Across democratic societies, the use of armed forces against civilians is subject to strict oversight because of the potentially deadly consequences. In Eswatini, however, questions about the deployment of security forces often receive limited public scrutiny.

Citizens deserve to know exactly what happened.

Why was force used?

What threat was perceived?

Were proper procedures followed?

Could the shooting have been avoided?

These are not unreasonable questions. They are the minimum questions that should be answered whenever a life is lost at the hands of state agents.

Unfortunately, Eswatini’s political environment often makes accountability difficult. Under an absolute monarchy, institutions responsible for investigating abuses are frequently perceived as lacking independence. This perception has been reinforced by years of unresolved controversies involving security operations and allegations of excessive force.

As a result, many emaSwati no longer accept official statements at face value.

The death of Slindile Dlamini is also a painful reminder that ordinary citizens often pay the highest price for a political system that concentrates power while limiting oversight. In countries with strong democratic institutions, independent inquiries, parliamentary scrutiny, and public transparency help ensure that abuses are properly investigated.

In Eswatini, citizens are often expected to simply trust that the same authorities involved in an incident will fairly investigate themselves.

That is why calls for calm, while understandable, are not enough.

The family of Slindile Dlamini deserves more than condolences. They deserve the truth. The public deserves more than promises. They deserve transparency. And the nation deserves more than another investigation whose findings may never be fully disclosed.

If the government genuinely wants citizens to remain calm, it must demonstrate that no one is above accountability, including members of the police and military.

Justice is not achieved through statements.

Justice is achieved when the truth is revealed, responsibility is established, and those responsible are held accountable.

Until that happens, the death of Slindile Dlamini will remain not only a personal tragedy for one family but a symbol of the deeper crisis of accountability facing Eswatini today.