TAIWANESE INVESTORS ACCUSED OF LAND GRABS AND HOUSE DEMOLITIONS IN GEGE, AMBASSADOR SILENT

Jeremy Liang, the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan, has come under fire for his silence regarding allegations that Taiwanese investors are forcibly evicting residents in Gege, Eswatini, and demolishing their homes. Despite repeated attempts by Swaziland News to seek clarity on the matter, the Ambassador has avoided addressing the issue, deflecting responsibility to the Eswatini government.

This controversy centers on John Fan, Director of Nhlangano FTM Garments, and other Taiwanese investors accused of forcibly evicting families and demolishing homes in Mbondzela, one of the affected areas in Gege. Civil society groups, political parties, and residents have condemned these actions, which have left hundreds of residents homeless, many of whom claim ancestral ties to the land spanning over 100 years.

A message sent to the Taiwan Ambassador asking for his view on the evictions received no response. Previous interactions with Ambassador Liang have followed a similar pattern, with the diplomat referring journalists to the Eswatini government for comment on issues involving Taiwanese nationals. “Contact the Government,” the Ambassador said in response to earlier queries, an evasive stance that has drawn criticism amidst the unfolding crisis.

Political organizations, including the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and the Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), have visited the affected families and voiced their outrage over the demolitions. SPLM Secretary General Lioness Sibandze described the evictions as part of a broader, systemic issue affecting Eswatini’s citizens. “These actions, carried out by Taiwanese foreigners, serve as stark evidence of a three-pronged battle: the Royal Family, the Tinkhundla System, and Neo-Colonialism (Capitalism),” Sibandze said. She called on citizens to “rise up and reclaim what rightfully belongs to them—their land.”

The demolitions have also implicated local business figures, including Tito Dlamini and Sandile Simelane, who allegedly conspired with the Taiwanese to incorporate the area into Farm 19 and 22, facilitating the evictions. This move has been met with widespread condemnation, with critics accusing those involved of prioritizing profit over the well-being and rights of the residents.

Taiwanese investors have long been active in Eswatini, initially gaining favor by establishing textile factories and supporting small-scale development projects in the country. However, these recent allegations suggest a shift, with claims that Taiwanese entities are now exercising undue influence over local affairs, including land ownership.

The evictions have reignited concerns about Eswatini’s governance, particularly the Tinkhundla system’s role in enabling exploitation by foreign entities. Residents and advocacy groups argue that the government’s close ties with Taiwanese businesses have created an environment where local rights are disregarded in favor of foreign interests.

The affected families in Mbondzela are calling for accountability and justice, demanding an end to the evictions and the return of their land. For many, the homes demolished were more than just property—they represented a legacy of survival and community spanning generations.

The silence of the Taiwanese Ambassador and the broader diplomatic community underscores the complexity of this crisis, as residents feel abandoned by both their government and international stakeholders. The situation has fueled growing calls for systemic reform, with many seeing the land grabs as symptomatic of deeper issues of inequality, corruption, and exploitation in Eswatini.

As tensions escalate, civil society groups and political organizations continue to rally behind the affected families, calling for immediate action to halt the evictions and protect residents’ rights. The broader struggle for justice in Gege serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by ordinary Swazis in the face of unchecked power, whether wielded by foreign investors or local elites. The question remains whether the cries of the displaced will be heard, or whether their plight will be another chapter in Eswatini’s long history of unaccountable governance.