By Nokwanda Mamba

MBABANE:Amnesty International has called for Eswatini authorities to immediately lift the ban on South African  based pro- democracy MPs lawyer Sicelo Mngomezulu.

Princess Lindiwe, the Minister of Home Affairs issued a gazette last week Thursday banning the lawyer for the incarcerated pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube from entering the country, Mngomezulu stands accused of calling for the boycott of the Umhlanga ceremony. 

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3(d)of the Immigration Act,1982, the Minister of Home Affairs issues the following Notice; This notice may be cited as the Declaration of a prohibited Immigrant Notice, 2022.This notice shall come into force on the date of publication in the gazette. Declaration of a prohibited Immigrant. Mr Celimpilo Hlabeyakhe Sicelo Mngomezulu, a National of the Republic of South Africa, born on 11th July 1979 and bearer of the Republic of South Africa Passport No M00227027, is declared an undesirable and prohibited immigrant of the Kingdom of Eswatini ”, reads the Legal Notice released by the King through his Home Affairs Minister.

A questionnaire was sent to King Mswati’s Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo,however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

But in a statement released on Tuesday,Amnesty International, an international human rights organisation observed that given the socio-political crisis in Eswatini, such a declaration reflected the regretful reality of the eSwatini State.

“The Declaration of a Prohibited migrant notice against Sicelo Mngomezulu, one of the legal representatives of the incarcerated members of Parliament, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, is deeply troubling.It is designed to rob Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube of legal representation of their choice, intimidate him and others from speaking their minds, challenging the authorities ,and defending human rights and the rule of law,”reads the statement in part.