KING MSWATI CRITICIZED FOR INVOLVING CHILDREN IN POLITICAL AGENDA THROUGH INCWALA CEREMONY

King Mswati III has come under fire for including children as young as 13 in his political agenda to sustain Eswatini’s oppressive Tinkhundla system of governance. Political parties remain banned in the kingdom, and human rights defenders are frequently targeted for demanding democracy. Yet, the King continues to involve children in rituals and ceremonies that critics argue serve his political objectives.

During the annual Incwala ritual ceremony, children known as Ingatja were among the regiments dispersed by the King on Saturday. For their participation, they were reportedly paid R1,000 each, a gesture framed as a reward but criticized as manipulation. In his address to the regiments, the King warned against singing Incwala songs outside the ceremony, emphasizing their significance in connecting the throne with royal ancestors. He further cautioned that these songs, which include political undertones, must be respected and reserved exclusively for the ritual.

The inclusion of children in such activities has drawn sharp criticism from Eswatini’s pro-democracy movement. Brian Sangweni, National Spokesperson for the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), condemned the practice, describing it as child abuse. “These children are being manipulated to sing political songs, mock political activists, and journalists,” Sangweni said. “We must condemn the royal culture that divides the nation. The real Eswatini culture predates royalty and unites us as a people, unlike this version that serves to entrench Mswati’s rule.”

Sangweni’s remarks come in the context of broader concerns about the monarchy’s use of cultural practices to maintain control. Incwala, while traditionally significant, has been criticized for being repurposed to reinforce the King’s political authority. Critics argue that involving children in such activities not only exposes them to manipulation but also blurs the line between cultural preservation and political indoctrination.

Videos circulating on social media showed children counting the money they received for participating in the ceremony. One child was heard saying, “The King loves us, who on earth can give you R1,000?” For many, these scenes illustrate how financial incentives are used to co-opt children into supporting a regime that has consistently suppressed democratic freedoms.

The use of children in the King’s agenda has sparked comparisons to last year’s controversy, when the then Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku criticized children’s attendance at a Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) rally. Sangweni highlighted the double standards, noting that while children were condemned for participating in a pro-democracy event, they are now being actively involved in royal rituals that carry political undertones.

The involvement of children in such activities raises questions about their welfare and the ethics of exposing them to political agendas. Human rights advocates argue that the practice violates children’s rights and exploits their innocence for political gain. Critics have called for an end to the use of cultural ceremonies as tools for political manipulation and for measures to protect children from being drawn into the monarchy’s efforts to sustain its rule.

As Eswatini’s pro-democracy movement continues to push for reforms, the use of culture to maintain the status quo remains a contentious issue. For many, the King’s actions underscore the need for systemic change to separate cultural preservation from political control and to ensure that children are not exploited in the process.

The scenes from the Incwala ceremony serve as a stark reminder of the lengths to which the monarchy will go to sustain its power, even at the expense of the nation’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The call for democracy in Eswatini is not just about political participation—it is about protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens, including its children.