eSwatini Police on Friday fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at protesters marched in protests against poor service delivery, alleged misuse of state pension funds, and a proposed law to charge citizens who marry foreigners.
Reuters news agency reports that at least one person was taken to hospital with injuries after the clash.
The landlocked southern African country, formerly known as Swaziland, is governed by an absolute monarchy system, with a very powerful king who rules the about 1.4 million citizens.
King Mswati III is the last remaining absolute monarch in Africa.
An official at the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland – one of the protest organisers – said the demonstration was a success while criticising the police’s reaction.
“We will reap the fruits of our toil,” Reuters quotes Muzi Mhlanga. “We are very worried with the way police behaved. We have recorded their brutality.”
The police did not respond to calls for comment.
The king last week said from June 30 parliament would be dissolved and he would make all decisions with a council of ministers, including over a finance bill that would require Swazi citizens to pay US$ 2,200 to marry a foreigner.
Thousands of foreigners, mostly from Asia, apply each year to become Swazi citizens for business purposes. The government wants to crackdown on sham marriages aimed at cheating the system.
