Our History

In response to the June 2021 political conflict in Swaziland, survivors and families of victims formed the Swaziland Massacre Victims and Survivors Association (SWAVISA). The association was created to address the civic claims of victims and to ensure that the atrocities of the past are not forgotten or repeated. During the massacre, there were widespread human rights violations, and it is crucial that all Swazis understand the gravity of these events. The association seeks to expose the truth about disappearances, assassinations, torture, and other abuses that occurred under the Tinkhundla regime and hold the perpetrators accountable.

SWAVISA was founded in 2021 as a humanitarian, non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental organization. Its mission is to seek justice for the victims, survivors, and their families. The atrocities committed by the state security forces during this period left many with lifelong injuries, including amputations and bullets too dangerous to remove. Many have lost their livelihoods due to their injuries, compounding the already dire situation of rising poverty and youth unemployment in Swaziland.
The violence between June and July 2021 cast a shadow of fear and sorrow over the Kingdom of Eswatini. Protesters calling for constitutional and political reforms were met with excessive and brutal force from state security forces, including live ammunition, tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets. In just two days, the hospital morgues were overwhelmed as approximately 100 people were killed, over 500 critically injured, and around 700 arrested for looting. The use of lethal force was indiscriminate, affecting not only protesters but also innocent bystanders, including women and children. Many continue to live with permanent injuries, and some families have lost loved ones.
SWAVISA aims to restore the dignity of the survivors and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the people of Swaziland.