By Zweli Martin Dlamini

DURBAN: Thulani Rudolf Maseko, the Chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) says as pro-democracy groups, even though they were planning to commemorate the 29th June massacre, they continue to maintain peaceful means to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

Speaking during a press conference held in Durban, South Africa on Thursday, the MSF Chairperson dismissed allegations suggesting that international organizations were planning a revolution.

The allegations were responded to by newly appointed Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo in an interview with the State owned Eswatini Observer.

“We, the leadership of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum [MSF]note with great concern the false allegations made in the media by the Government Spokesperson, Alpheous Nxumalo about a so- called ‘winter revolution’ being allegedly planned by international organisations and some Swazis.

We consider this to be fake news, smear campaigns and apartheid-style character assassination of the leaders of the Mass Democratic Movement [MDM] to portray them as instigators of violence,to tarnish the image of the MDM and its leadership, this is just meant to destabilise the MDM. These allegations could cause panic and plunge the country into further instability and could be used as a way for the government to justify unleashing its security forces to perpetrate violence against innocent and unarmed citizenry,” said the MSF Chairperson.

A questionnaire was sent to Alpheous Nxumalo, the newly appointed Government Spokesperson, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

In another note, the human rights lawyer, and the MSF Chairperson, Thulani Maseko said that the national security excuse is one of the methods in which the Tinkhundla government is trying to “legitimately” continue to brutalize the people without being held accountable for the human rights violations committed out daily.

“We wish to reiterate that the MDM is employing peaceful and non- violent means to resolve the crisis in the country and does not wish to see a repeat of what happened in June 2021 where an unprecedented number of Swazis lost their lives at the hands of the State. We condemn in the strongest possible terms all acts of violence committed by any person or institution against citizens and activists in particular”, said the MSF Chairperson.