CRACKDOWN ON ACTIVISTS HIGHLIGHTS EROSION OF RIGHTS IN ESWATINI
The Kingdom of Eswatini has become a battlefield for democracy, human rights, and justice. As someone who grew up witnessing oppression and injustice, I cannot stay silent when the people of my homeland are subjected to systemic violence and relentless repression. In 2023, the Eswatini government escalated its brutal campaign against activists, opposition figures, and ordinary citizens demanding political reform, further entrenching the monarchy’s stranglehold on power. These actions highlight the erosion of fundamental rights in our country and the government’s fear of the people’s growing calls for change.
The assassination of Thulani Maseko, a respected human rights lawyer and advocate, was a deliberate message to all who dare to speak out against the monarchy. Maseko was shot in his own home, a sanctuary violated by those who wished to silence him permanently. His death was not just an attack on one man but an assault on the ideals of justice and equality he stood for. Despite international condemnation, the government has made no effort to investigate this heinous crime or bring the perpetrators to justice. This lack of accountability is emblematic of the broader impunity that defines Eswatini’s governance.
Maseko’s murder was part of a larger pattern of state-sponsored violence aimed at silencing dissent. PUDEMO activists, including Maxwell Nkambule, Penuel Malinga, and Xolile Dlamini-Malinga, were also targeted in violent attacks. These actions, like those carried out against pro-democracy protesters in 2021, reveal a regime desperate to maintain its grip on power through fear and intimidation. The government has shown it will go to any lengths to suppress opposition, whether through extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, or outright torture.
The persecution of labor unions and peaceful protesters further illustrates the monarchy’s disregard for basic human rights. Organizations like the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) have faced relentless harassment for organizing strikes to demand improved working conditions and political reform. In January, the government issued an arrest warrant for SWATCAWU general secretary Sticks Nkambule, forcing him into hiding. Such tactics are not new—they are a deliberate strategy to isolate and weaken movements that challenge the status quo.
Protests have been met with brutal force. In January, student demonstrators in Manzini were violently dispersed, with police using live ammunition to suppress their demands for a better future. Activists delivering petitions to authorities were treated as enemies of the state, with injuries and arrests becoming routine outcomes of peaceful assemblies. These actions reflect a government more interested in maintaining power than addressing the legitimate grievances of its citizens.
The legal system, meant to serve justice, has been weaponized against the people. Former MPs Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza were convicted under dubious charges tied to the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act. Their real “crime” was advocating for political reform during the 2021 protests. While detained, they endured beatings, were denied medical care, and faced significant obstacles in accessing their lawyers. Their sentences symbolize the government’s use of legal instruments to punish dissent and discourage others from speaking out.
Torture and other forms of ill-treatment have become common tools of repression. PUDEMO member Brian Sihlongonyane was abducted, tortured, and left for dead in a forest after leading a peaceful petition to the United Nations. Members of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) have also reported beatings and torture in police custody. These accounts, uninvestigated and unresolved, reveal a state willing to forsake human dignity to preserve its power.
Beyond political repression, the government has failed its citizens in other critical areas. The healthcare system is in shambles, with public clinics and hospitals lacking basic medical supplies. Protests in June and July highlighted the dire state of healthcare, but the government’s response was little more than empty promises. Similarly, the threat of forced evictions looms large over communities like Sigombeni and the Malkerns, where outdated land governance policies leave families vulnerable and insecure.
The plight of the LGBTI community further underscores the government’s refusal to uphold human rights. Despite a Supreme Court ruling that the Registrar of Companies’ refusal to register the Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM) group was unconstitutional, the government has refused to comply. This defiance, rooted in discriminatory laws and outdated ideologies, denies an entire community the dignity and recognition they deserve.
At the heart of these issues is King Mswati III, who wields absolute power over all branches of government. The monarchy has resisted all calls for reform, maintaining the 1973 ban on political parties and ensuring that elections are little more than a façade. Independent candidates, the only ones allowed to run, serve as a thin veil over a system designed to consolidate the king’s authority.
But despite this dark reality, hope remains. The resilience of Eswatini’s people is unshakable. Activists, unions, and communities continue to fight for a better future, often at great personal risk. Their courage is a reminder that the spirit of resistance cannot be extinguished, no matter how oppressive the regime.
As I write these words, I am reminded of the urgency of our struggle. The people of Eswatini deserve justice, freedom, and the right to shape their own destiny. The international community must do more than condemn—it must act to hold the government accountable and support those who are fighting for change.
The road ahead is long and fraught with challenges, but I believe in the power of the people. Together, we can break the chains of oppression and build an Eswatini where every voice matters and every life is valued. The time for change is now.
