- King says communities must resolve land conflicts peacefully
- Protect widows, orphans and other vulnerable citizens from losing land
- Government says King has been briefed on the issue
BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
LOBAMBA– His Majesty King Mswati III has called for land disputes in communities across Eswatini to be resolved peacefully, warning that such conflicts are costing lives and leaving vulnerable citizens without protection.
The directive was revealed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, HRH Prince Lonkhokhela, during the House of Assembly sitting on Friday, July 17, 2026, as he responded to Members of Parliament on the ministry’s First Quarter Performance Report for the 2026/27 financial year.
Prince Lonkhokhela said government had already reported the matter to His Majesty and other relevant stakeholders.
“I can confidently say that the King said the issue of land disputes in communities must be resolved because sometimes people kill each other over land disputes. The vulnerable, widows and orphans have their land taken,” the minister told Parliament.
Land disputes are disagreements over the ownership, use, boundaries or allocation of land. In Eswatini, such disputes often involve Swazi Nation Land, family inheritance, boundary disagreements, illegal land allocations and conflicts over communal grazing land. If left unresolved, they can lead to violence, court battles, displacement of families and the loss of land by vulnerable people.
The King’s directive comes at a time when the country has witnessed a number of land-related disputes involving communities, traditional structures and illegal land transactions.
Recent cases include disputes at Sigombeni Umphakatsi, where the Land Management Board suspended new kukhonta allocations while investigating allegations of irregular land allocations and the displacement of vulnerable families. Authorities also uncovered an organised syndicate accused of illegally selling Swazi Nation Land, allegedly defrauding members of the public of more than E1.6 million through fake land ownership documents.
Other cases have involved court action over the illegal occupation of community land and government intervention to resolve long-running disputes affecting families.
The King’s position also echoes calls by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, who has repeatedly urged chiefs and traditional leaders to protect widows, orphans, child-headed households and other vulnerable citizens from being displaced. She has also encouraged traditional authorities to allocate land to needy families so government can provide decent housing.
Prince Lonkhokhela’s remarks indicate that government is treating land disputes as a national priority, with emphasis on protecting lives, strengthening community harmony and safeguarding land rights through lawful and peaceful processes.
The King’s message places renewed focus on preserving peace in communities, ensuring justice for vulnerable citizens and promoting responsible land administration for the benefit of all Emaswati.
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(Courtesy Pic)
