Swaziland Massacre Victims and Survivors Association (SWAVISA)

The Swaziland Massacre Victims and Survivors (SWAVISA) Association was established in 2021 as a humanitarian, non-partisan and non-governmental organization whose mandate is to ensure accountability for all victims, survivors and families of the killed victims in Eswatini. The organization was formed in response to the 29th June 2021 Political uprising culminating in the widespread call for democracy. SWAVISA was formed in response to the June 2021 Political uprising culminating in the widespread call for democracy. Security forces used live ammunition and bullets that had been modified to cause maximum damage to the body (referred to as dum-dum bullets). SWAVISA members are those that survived that heavy-handed response of the state brutality, torture and degrading treatment-some have lost limbs, some continue to live with the bullets trapped in their bodies-too dangerous to remove surgically and some families of victims killed during the uprising. All of the victims were un armed during the protest and some were not even part of the demonstrations and got caught up in the crossfire. All of SWAVISA members lost livelihood due to their injuries and this has exacerbated the dire situation of rising poverty. Due to our changed circumstances we realize that we have no other option but to organize ourselves and demand accountability from the state which has inflicted this upon us. During the hospitalization of the victims between June/July 2021 a process seeking consent from the victims began. initiated by Bongane Madzabudzabu Kunene, one of the disfigured victims who had his leg imputed, conducted a one-on-one informal counseling sessions among the victims on their hospital beds. These informal sessions revealed that the victims were visibly traumatized at what happened to them, and most could not afford the necessary equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches to aid them in their distressed conditions after being discharged.