A nurse in eSwatini has detailed how grim the situation is at one of the southern African country’s hospitals after a number of protesters were reportedly shot during pro-democracy protests last week.
Cape Town – A nurse in eSwatini has detailed how grim the situation is at one of the southern African country’s hospitals after a number of protesters were reportedly shot during pro-democracy protests last week.
According to EWN, the nurse, Khosi Dlamini, who has been treating gunshot patients at the Mbabane government hospital, said that people who were brought in at the height of the protests were only stabilised, and were yet to be operated on.
Dlamini said doctors at the hospital were overwhelmed by the number of people who were brought in.
He said, many of the patients would probably never walk again as some of them were “shot in the lower body the femur, the thigh muscles, such that the joint was destroyed”.
Protesters in eSwatini last week ramped up their campaign for political reform in the tiny landlocked country, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, formerly known as Swaziland.
The government deployed the army to disperse the crowds and unverified videos emerged of beatings by security forces, AFP reported.
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Local civil society and opposition groups have claimed several dozens were killed.
Amnesty International last said “at least 20 people are confirmed to have been killed” by security forces.
But the government has so far said it has not received an official report of any deaths.
Internet service providers said they had been ordered to cut access to social media and online platforms until further notice.
Shops were closed during the violence but some were slowly reopening on Monday, according to an AFP correspondent in the capital Mbabane.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in place, with a heavy police presence on the streets.
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku on Monday said “the situation on the ground has stabilised, as our security forces have ensured the maintenance of peace and order across all regions”.
ALSO READ | AU chief slams deadly violence in eSwatini
Meanwhile a panel of envoys from the regional bloc SADC visited the kingdom on Sunday on a fact-finding mission.
“This was an initial mission and an urgent one,” SADC told AFP, adding that they held talks with government officials as well as religious and civil society groups.
The emissaries led by Botswana Foreign Minister Lemohang Kwape, will return for “detailed interactions”.
During his weekly prayers in the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis called “upon those in authority and …to make a joint effort for dialogue, and reconciliation”.
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Additional reporting by AFP
Picture: Getty Images
