The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) has accused King Mswati III of presiding over a state of collapse and neglect, warning of a looming humanitarian disaster.
SSN Spokesperson Lucky Lukhele painted a dire picture of life in the kingdom’s public hospitals, where patients are allegedly turned away or asked to buy even the most basic medical items themselves.
“Just five years ago, getting a painkiller at a hospital was rare, but now it’s far worse,” Lukhele said. “People who’ve been in car accidents or suffered serious injuries are being told to go buy their own bandages and supplies. The hospitals are empty shelves.”
According to SSN, Eswatini’s 2025–2026 health budget totals 2.9 billion Emalangeni ($162.4 million), yet an estimated 900 million Emalangeni ($48.6 million) has reportedly been diverted for royal use. Lukhele claimed that the king’s personal budget runs over 6 billion Emalangeni ($329.4 million) annually, with extravagant spending on travel and luxuries.
“This is not negligence, it’s deliberate,” he said. “It’s not the kind of genocide with bombs, but one where people are starved of healthcare until they die slowly. The world must call this what it is.”
The SSN also highlighted severe issues in the education sector. The University of eSwatini, once the pride of the nation, is reportedly struggling to retain staff and is said to have deteriorated to a point where some describe it as “less effective than a high school”.
When asked if King Mswati had responded to any of these allegations, Lukhele was blunt; “He does not care. His petty cash is said to be around 10 million Emalangeni ($550 000) a day. Even a one-day trip to South Africa doesn’t cost him less than 200 million Emalangeni ($11.1 million).”
Healthcare workers in Eswatini have now taken to the streets in protest. Doctors and nurses are demanding urgent intervention, saying they can no longer bear the weight of a failing system on their own.
“They’re standing in solidarity with their patients,” said Lukhele. “If nothing changes, even chronic patients, those on antiretrovirals or insulin, might not get their medication in the next week or two.”
--ChannelAfrica--
