A Kingdom in Mourning: Why Eswatini Must Declare the Killing of Women a National Disaster

"a staggering 6,160 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases were recorded between January and October 2025 alone."
In the Kingdom of Eswatini, a silent epidemic is claiming more lives every other day. As we navigate 2026, the Kingdom finds itself at a critical crossroads where the sacred traditional value of Kuhlonipha (respect) is being disturbingly distorted into a tool of control and lethal force. According to data reported by the Eswatini Observer, a staggering 6,160 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases were recorded between January and October 2025 alone. Most harrowing is that approximately 85% of these incidents occurred within the home, with many escalating into the ultimate betrayal: the killing of women by those who claimed to love them.

The human cost is etched in the grief of our communities. Recent cases, such as the brutal killing of Nunu Johnson who was stubbed to death 16 times by her husband Thulani Ginindza on new year’s day, have shaken the national conscience, sparking widespread outrage and a unified demand for the government to officially declare the killing of women a national disaster. This is not merely a social issue; it is a national emergency that demands a proactive approach from policymakers, treating the protection of women with the same urgency as matters of national security. The socio-economic impact is staggering. Femicide is a primary driver of poverty; when a mother is killed, the household structure collapses.

At the heart of this crisis lies a desperate need for a return to tolerance and emotional intelligence. We must challenge the toxic narrative that equates love with possession and dominance. True masculinity is not defined by the ability to take a life, but by the strength to be patient and the wisdom to walk away when a relationship becomes untenable.
"True masculinity is not defined by the ability to take a life"
While the annual "16 Days of Activism Against GBV" helps break the silence, 16 days of awareness cannot fix 365 days of lethal violence. Policymakers face a critical moment to demonstrate leadership by enacting vigilant, comprehensive policies. This includes moving to declare the killings a national disaster to mobilize emergency resources and prioritizing femicide cases within the judicial system. Furthermore, the 2018 Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act must be fully funded, ensuring it is not just ink on paper, but a functional mechanism for justice. To prevent future tragedies, we must also invest in young men, scaling up resources for programs that mentor boys in healthy masculinity, teaching them that conflict does not require combat.

Eswatini’s future is intrinsically linked to the safety of its women. The time for decisive action is now to prevent further loss and build a society where every woman can live without fear. Only then can we truly say that we are a nation of peace.




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