05 July 2021

1. The General Secretaries of Christian Councils in Southern Africa are issuing this statement under the auspices of their regional organisation, the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa(FOCCISA) in response to the disturbing reports on the brutal attacks on the civilian population by the government security forces as well as the destruction of property and livelihoods by some protestors.
2. Reports of people being shot in cold blood invoke the words of the prophet Isaiah who speaks on God’s behalf that, God “saw that there was no one and was shocked because there was no one to intervene.”(Isaiah59:16a).
3. The Christian Councils Southern Africa, on behalf of the churches and congregations of member churches, extend heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives during these tragic experiences; and pray that justice may be served for the consolation of the bereaved.
4. As FOCCISA, we are moved by Christ’s compassion for these people God and fellow citizens of the world, who have been calling for the democratization of eSwatini for a very long time.
5. To this end, the FOCCISA is calling for (a) the immediate cessation of all forms of state-sponsored violence against the citizens, (b) Suspension of all protest and (c) establishment of an inclusive National Dialogue to chart a way forward towards the establishment of a just peace in a constitutional democracy.
6. The FOCCISA is also calling on the Southern Africa Development Cooperation(SADC), especially its organ for Politics, Defence and Security(Troika) to take a lead in implementing these urgent calls in accordance with its protocol objectives. We take note of the “fact finding” mission of the Organ to the troubled country at this time; and call on President Masisi of Botswana, the organ’s Chairperson, to ensure that the voices of ordinary people are heard, who have been submitting affidavits to Government, leading up to the current impasse. We are disturbed that the delegation appears not to have planned to hear from any representativesof the people other than government representatives. We call on SADC to return to eSwatini with a clear intent to hear the people as well as the government. For only a genuine National Dialogue tat ventilates all opinions for all options is likely to yield a lasting solution of peace of justice.
7. The FOCCISA call to the SADC organ for Politics, Defence and Security is based on the mandate of this arm of the SADC whose objectives include among other things is to “protect the people and safeguard the development of the Region against instability arising from the breakdown of law amd order, intra-state conflict and agression” Currently the people are not protected, and human development is deeply compromised due to this instability. The other objective is to “prevent, contain and resolve inter-and intra-state conflict by peaceful means.” Curently conflict is being resolved through violent means. The organ also aims at observing and encouraging “state parties to implement, United Nations, African Union and other international coventions and treaties…” Many international conventions and treaties are being abused in eSwatini case to the relevent African as arms are being used against defenseless citizens.
8. The FOCCISA is calling for all Africa Conference of Churches(AACC) to take up the eSwatini case to the relevant African Union attention.We are so calling on the World Clouncil of Churches(WCC)to take up the eSwatini case to the relevant United Nations systems.Finally, the FOCCISA is inviting all people of faith worldwide to join us in prayers for the churches and the people of ESwatini in this time of difficulties. An Ecumenical Prayer of solidarity has been planned for the 8th of July 2021 at 19h30 Central Africa Time.////Ends

About FOCCISA:

The Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa(FOCCISA)is a fellowship of Christian Councils of Churches in the Southern African Development Community(SADC) Region which provides a forum to facilitate consultation, networking and cooperation of the churches in the SADC Region, in order to deal with the resolution of regional crises. The form serves to cooperation of the churches in the SADC Region in order