WE WILL NOT FORGET: FROM MASSACRE TO EXILE, WHY JUNE 28 MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

Every year on June 28, we gather. We gather to remember, to grieve, to honour, and most importantly to resist. What took place in Eswatini in 2021 was not just a tragedy. It was a state-sanctioned massacre. In just 48 hours, at least 291 people were shot dead by security forces acting under the orders of a monarch who fears nothing more than an empowered people.

But our memories are sharper than their bullets. And our silence has expired.

This past weekend I attended the Commemoration Event for Fallen Swazis in Birmingham UK organised by SWALIMO, a movement I am proudly part of. The venue was packed with exiles, activists, students, and freedom fighters from all walks of life. Some escaped the regime with only their lives. Others have scars—physical and emotional—that speak louder than any anthem.

One face stood out in the crowd: Mduduzi “Magawugawu” Simelane. A former MP. A father. A man of the people. And now a political refugee granted asylum in the UK after fleeing brutal repression by the Eswatini regime.

Let’s be clear: Magawugawu committed no crime. He spoke truth in Parliament. He challenged the king’s grip on power. He sided with the people. For that, he was hunted like an animal. State media demonised him. His fellow MPs were arrested and tortured. He escaped only by a miracle, and yet even in exile he remains a threat to a monarchy that trembles at the sound of democracy.

Meeting him at this commemoration reminded me just how far-reaching the trauma of June 2021 is. It is not just about those who were killed. It is about those who were silenced. Those who are still in hiding. Those who were abducted and never seen again. It is about the culture of fear King Mswati III has perfected for decades.

And yet we are not afraid.

In Birmingham, candles were lit not just for the dead but for the living. There were speeches, poetry, and prayers. We shared stories, tears, and dreams. We stood not just in mourning but in defiance. The theme was clear: “We Remember, We Honour, We Rise.” And rise we must.

Because
If we don’t remember, the regime wins.
If we don’t honour, the struggle dies.
If we don’t rise, we remain slaves.

This is not just about Eswatini anymore. It’s about what happens when absolute power goes unchecked. When the international community looks away. When kings behave like gods.

Magawugawu’s story is a warning and a rallying cry. If they can chase an MP into exile, what can they do to an ordinary citizen? If they can massacre unarmed protesters, what will they do to our children next? The system is not broken—it was built this way. Built to protect one man and his family while millions suffer in silence.

Let this article be a flame that keeps the memory alive.

To the regime: You cannot kill all of us.
To our people: Keep fighting even in whispers.
To the world: Stop pretending not to see.

The blood of June 2021 is still fresh. We don’t need to wait for another massacre to act. We owe it to the dead. We owe it to Eswatini.

We will not forget. We will not forgive. We will not stop.