Army public relations officer Nkosinathi Dlamini said on Thursday that the exercise took place in November 2017 and was carried out by Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) officers.

He said the exercise was carried out over two weeks, with about 90 guns being destroyed daily.

According to Dlamini, the USDF officers used specialist saws and shears to cut the firearms which were eventually buried in concrete within a military controlled area.

He said the firearms that were destroyed were seized in 2016 and were kept at an army storage until they were destroyed by qualified officers.

Dlamini said it was the army’s view that by reducing the availability of illicit weapons, the risk of armed violence would also decline, not only in Swaziland but also in the wider Southern African region.

BM/jn/APA