SENATORS have strongly condemned what they described as a growing trend of disrespect directed at His Majesty King Mswati III on social media platforms, warning that such behaviour reflects a moral decline within society.
Describing the situation as Sekunemkhuhlane, loosely translated as a sickness or unhealthy state of affairs, the lawmakers expressed concern that digital platforms were increasingly being used to tarnish the image of the country’s leadership and elders.
The concerns were raised during the presentation of the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation’s 2025/26 annual performance report in the Senate.
Senators said social media had, in recent times, become a space where the king is frequently mocked and insulted, a trend they warned could damage the country’s image both locally and internationally.
Senator Sigombeni Dlamini was among the first to speak, commending the king for strengthening international relations while expressing disappointment at the conduct of some citizens online.
Sekunemkhuhlane. Such behaviour reflects on the citizens, not the king. This is not the respect and love the country is known for. We need to show love to one another and respect must begin with our elders. The king deserves our respect,” he said.
He emphasised that such conduct represented a departure from the country’s cultural values.
Senator Celumusa Mndvoti also raised concern about the spread of misinformation online, questioning whether government had a clear strategy to address the issue.
“The ministry must find ways to deal with this. It is wrong, disrespectful and is worsening daily,” he said.
READ MORE | We need our own ‘Mkhwanazis’ to tackle corruption – Minister
The debate also touched on concerns about foreign nationals who allegedly abuse the country’s hospitality.
Senator Princess Ncengencenge referred to a recent incident involving an international artist who was reportedly treated with honour during a visit, only to later mock the country.
“We need clarity on who this person was and the purpose of their visit, especially if State resources were involved. It is unacceptable for someone to be treated with such respect and then go on to ridicule the country,” she said.
Senator Lizzie Nkosi highlighted the broader issue of cyberbullying and misinformation, noting that elders are often targeted.
She questioned whether there was a specialised team dedicated to monitoring and addressing harmful online behaviour.
Responding to the concerns, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu highlighted that the challenges posed by social media were not unique to Eswatini.
She said the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) had made it easier to create and spread misleading content.
“As a country, we need to come up with solutions. There is a lot happening on social media, including the spread of misleading information through artificial intelligence, which is affecting the entire world. We must educate citizens about these issues,” she said.
Shakantu revealed that government had taken steps to address misinformation and cyberbullying, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Taiwan Embassy.
While acknowledging the importance of embracing technology, she stressed the need to ensure it is used responsibly.
“AI is the future, but we must ensure that it benefits the country rather than being used as a tool for mockery and misinformation,” she said.
