PUDEMO PRESIDENT CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THULANI MASEKO’S ASSASSINATION

Mlungisi Makhanya, President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), has announced that the MultiStakeholder Forum (MSF) will advocate for an independent, credible international investigation into the assassination of human rights lawyer and MSF Chairperson Thulani Maseko. This comes in alignment with the United States Congress’ Resolution 174, which calls for an inquiry by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

“We will advocate for an independent international credible investigation into the death of lawyer Thulani Maseko,” Makhanya said during “The Visionary Perspective” program hosted by prominent human rights defender Velaphi Mamba on Swaziland News. The MSF, a coalition of pro-democracy groups, is intensifying its efforts to bring accountability and justice for Maseko’s killing.

Resolution 174, passed by the US Congress, calls on the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate the assassination. The resolution also highlights Eswatini’s broader human rights violations and the need for global intervention to address systemic abuses under King Mswati III’s regime.

Thulani Maseko was murdered mere hours after King Mswati publicly threatened pro-democracy activists, stating that “mercenaries” would deal with those advocating for reform. The assassination has drawn widespread international condemnation and calls for accountability, but the Eswatini government has resisted demands for an independent investigation.

International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), have consistently called for an impartial probe into Maseko’s death. These groups argue that a credible investigation is essential to uncovering the truth and holding the perpetrators accountable.

However, the Eswatini government has evaded these calls, offering conflicting explanations for Maseko’s murder. Officials have attempted to shift blame onto alleged infighting within the pro-democracy movement, a claim widely dismissed by human rights defenders and activists as an effort to divert attention from the state’s potential involvement.

Human rights advocates in Eswatini have reiterated the necessity of an independent international investigation to ensure credible findings. “The government must allow an independent international investigation into the death of Thulani Maseko. Without this, there can be no justice or accountability,” said one activist.

Maseko’s assassination marked a turning point for the pro-democracy movement in Eswatini. His work as a lawyer and activist made him a symbol of resistance against the monarchy’s oppressive rule, and his killing has only intensified calls for democratic reforms. The reluctance of the Eswatini government to facilitate an independent investigation has further eroded trust and highlighted the regime’s disregard for human rights.

The MSF’s commitment to pursuing justice for Maseko underscores the resilience of Eswatini’s pro-democracy movement. By advocating for international accountability, the forum aims to not only address this individual case but also challenge the broader culture of impunity that has defined the monarchy’s rule.

As international pressure mounts, the world will be watching how Eswatini’s government responds to calls for justice. The assassination of Thulani Maseko is not just a tragedy for his family and colleagues—it is a test of the global community’s resolve to stand against authoritarianism and defend the principles of justice and human rights. The fight for accountability in Maseko’s case is emblematic of the larger struggle for a democratic Eswatini, where no one is above the law and every citizen’s life is valued.