MBABANE: King Mswati,an absolute Monarch has banned all dignified funerals for members of the armed underground forces fighting his oppressive Government.
Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was assassinated less than forty-eight(48) hours after addressing a press conference demanding that freedom fighter Mlandvo Khumalo who was allegedly linked to the underground forces must be buried with human dignity.
Mlandvo Khumalo was allegedly killed by Mswati’s mercenaries in a joint operation with the army about three weeks ago, he was accused of attacking the King’s regiments.
National Commissioner William Tsintsibala Dlamini summoned Khumalo’s family last week and stopped the funeral,the police boss said he would have to consult with Mswati first if the funeral could be allowed to proceed.
SNAT Burial(PTY) LTD, a company that donated a coffin to the family of the freedom fighter was forced to withdraw the donation, the teachers’ funeral services company was accused of supporting terrorism.
But on Wednesday morning,the police seized Mlandvo’s corpse from his family and proceeded to Ngwane Park cemetery to bury him.
A questionnaire was sent to the National Commissioner of Police, however,he had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report.
But a family member who spoke to this Swaziland News on Wednesday morning confirmed that Mlandvo was buried by the police.
“We are still here at Ngwane Park, police are burying Mlandvo but they are almost done.They wanted him to be buried without a coffin after forcing the donor to withdraw the donated coffin but we tried to buy one,” said the family member.
Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO)said what the King was doing was an indication that he represented nothing but the misery of the Swazis.
“We have lived with dictators as emaSwati before,but we have never experienced these levels of dictatorship as we are experiencing under Mswati.But this will not deter us, if anything,this must make Swazis realize that Mswati represents nothing, but a misery for our people.All of us have got to unite in one voice,Mswati must be held to account for all the atrocities, killings and gross human rights abuses inflicted on emaSwati,” said the PUDEMO President.
Reached for comments, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said he was not aware that the King stopped the funeral,he demanded evidence to support the allegations.
“We are not aware he did.Until evidence to that effect is shared with us we will continue to doubt he did,”said the King’s Spokesperson.
Mswati,when addressing his regiments on Saturday at Engabezweni Palace vowed to deal with those calling for democratic reforms, dozens have been killed since the political unrest started in June 2021.
The late freedom fighter Mlandvo Khumalo was buried by the police.