eSwatini National Police Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango launched “Operation Sikhona” on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, in the Hhohho region in northern eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). He subsequently told  media that, the operation’s target was “to destroy all dagga fields”.

Growing cannabis is the only source of income for thousands of Swazis, 50% of whom live below the breadline. This has not stopped the Royal eSwatini Police Service who have raided rural cannabis growers with a heavy hand, destroying R2 million worth of cannabis, further impoverishing communities.

Commissioner Masango said the Operation was in response to “ the growing concerns surrounding drug-related crimes and the impact of illegal substances on the community”. He said “officers have successfully destroyed sizeable quantities of dagga, contributing to the ongoing fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the kingdom” and that the operation would be expanded across Swaziland.

Writing in the Swaziland News Musa Mdluli noted that the country was impoverished and that, “some survive through dagga farming and this, includes some police officers, soldiers and Correctional Services Officers. It remains to be seen if dagga fields allegedly owned by security officers will also be destroyed.”

It has long been rumoured that members of King Mswati’s Royal Household have interests in the cannabis trade. Although legalization in the Kingdom has been on the cards for many years, no legislation has yet seen the light of day.  Some observers believe that legalization is being delayed because interests in the higher echelons of eSwatini’s political elite are making too much money from the illegal trade of ‘Swazi Gold’.

King Mswati himself has remained quiet on the cannabis front. He’s making headlines elsewhere. IOL reports that his upcoming overseas trip with his new wife, Inkhosikat Nomcebo Zuma, the 21 year old daughter of former SA president Jacob Zuma, will cost eSwatini taxpayers over R200 million.

King Mswati III apparently left the country on Sunday, 13 October, 2024 to attend the World Food Forum in Italy. He then proceeds to Serbia for a state visit and then to Samoa for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) .

Meanwhile, the King’s spokesperson, Percy Simelane, told the publication that his office was not responsible for finances or allowances for the King and his delegation, and referred comments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The publication said efforts to get hold of Foreign Affairs Minister, Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu, who is also part of the King’s delegation, were unsuccessful.

According to the World Bank, eSwatini's most recent labor force survey placed unemployment at 33.3% in 2021 (from 23% in 2016), the highest rate on record in over a decade and over 50% of the population continue to live below the $3.65/day (2017 PPP) lower middle-income country poverty line.  Eswatini has high and persistent inequality with a Gini index of 54.6% in 2016- among the highest in the world.

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