Fearful, traumatised, confused are some these are the words parents use to describe their feelings as a wave of child abductions and suspected ritual killings grips Eswatini.
Since January, the list of missing and murdered children continues to grow, leaving behind devastated families and communities haunted by unanswered questions.
One of the most heart-wrenching cases involves siblings Tibusiso (4) and Siphosethu Shongwe (5), who went missing in May from Gobholo, Mbabane.
Their bodies were found days later inside a parked vehicle at a neighbour’s homestead. Their mother, still shattered, shared that on most days, she felt confused and devastated.
“I live in constant fear for my other children.
“Someone at church recently told me their child narrowly escaped abduction. It made me wonder, did my children suffer the same fate before they died, ” she said.
Authorities’ response has drawn criticism from grieving families who believe more urgent action could have saved lives.
Just days later, five-year-old Bandile Kwaniko from Mpini never returned from preschool. Witnesses say he was chased by a knife-wielding man along a footbridge linking Gebeni and Ngonini. Although Bandile escaped and sought help, he was later found dead near an abandoned house.
Police have detained a 13-year-old suspect who reportedly admitted helping Bandile cross the footbridge but claimed ignorance of what happened afterward.
Bandile’s grandfather, Mduduzi Vilane, expressed his heartbreak: “He was a happy child who loved school and came home singing. Now, the silence in our yard is unbearable.” Vilane condemned the rising dangers children face, saying, “We are no longer raising children—we are burying them.” He called for stronger protection, faster police response, and community vigilance.
Earlier this year, the son of a police officer from Pigg’s Peak was found dead after being missing for nearly two weeks. Recently, the Royal Eswatini Police Service confirmed the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Tifezile Gwebu from Siguduma (Jericho).
While investigations are ongoing, progress remains slow, fueling frustration and fear.
Cultural experts have also spoken out, distinguishing authentic traditions from criminal misuse. Musa Makama, a sangoma, condemned the killings: “True traditional healing never involves violence or child killings. This abuse is a shameful distortion of our heritage.”
The Ministry of Education warns that fear of abductions is affecting school attendance and performance, especially in rural areas, where some parents keep children home.
Communities mobilise as fear of child abductions grows
In response to the violence and slow official action, communities across Eswatini are mobilising. Parents organise night patrols, form watch groups, and launch awareness campaigns to protect children.
In towns and rural areas, residents take turns monitoring routes children use, especially after dark near schools and isolated paths. Community police member Senzo Dlamini from Maliyaduma said, “We cannot sleep while our children disappear. If we must take shifts to protect them, then so be it.”
Local schools and churches hold emergency meetings, advising parents to walk children to school, identify safe houses, and encourage vigilance. Women’s groups distribute flyers and use WhatsApp to share information about missing children and safety tips.
Dlamini acknowledged the efforts offer hope but stressed they cannot replace proper policing and legal enforcement. “We’re doing what we can, but we need the system to work. We need justice.”
As the nation mourns, these grassroots efforts stand as a resistance to fear—and a desperate plea for lasting solutions.
