MBABANE: The persecution of incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs)Bacede Mabuza, Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane has been cited in a report released by Human Rights Watch on Thursday.
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization headquartered in New York City that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.
“Following the series of protests that began in June 2021, authorities continued to use excessive force and the threat of violence against activists and critics, some of whom were assaulted and harassed.Members of parliament (MPs) who voiced support for the protests have also been targeted. MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube have remained in custody since they were arrested in July 2021, after calling for democracy. They are facing trumped-up charges of terrorism under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, and for the alleged murder of Siphosethu Mntshali and Thando Shongwe, who were knocked down and killed by a car in Mbabane during the June 2021 protests. Another MP, Mduduzi Simelane, fled to South Africa, following weeks in hiding, after the police issued a warrant for his arrest in July 2021,” reads the report in part.
Incarcerated pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.