By Wendy Magagula

MBABANE:Barnes Dlamini,the President of the Swaziland Democratic Party(SWADEPA)says Foreign Affairs Minister Thulie Dladla is speaking nonsense by insinuating that human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was killed amid infighting within the pro-democracy movement.

This comes after the Minister released a report directed to Diplomats alleging that the Chairperson of the MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF)was not killed by the State but by his fellow ‘comrades’ within the pro-democracy movement.

“Government categorically denies any involvement in the murder of Mr. Thulani Maseko.Although this matter is still subject of investigation by the appropriate authorities,it is worth mentioning that Government had nothing to gain and much to lose from Mr. Maseko being killed.In actual fact, there are many others who would appear to have far greater motivation to do so.There are issues around factional struggles amongst the self-styled ‘pro-democracy forces’, popularity gain and financial motivation amongst others.Our investigative agencies are treating this case with the highest priority and are committed to apprehending the culprits,” said the Minister in the report.

But Barnes Dlamini,the SWADEPA President said the false narrative of the Foreign Affairs Minister should not go unchallenged.

“This is total nonsense and we shouldn't allow this narrative to go unchallenged. Thulane was a leader,a friend and a cde and to play around with his untimely death will not sit well with some of us.This statement is very unfortunate and is making some of us very angry.We know that the state killed cde Thulane, they promised some investigation but now it's clear that there is no investigation but they are really trying hard to cover their tracks.We remain resolute that the state assassinated cde Thulane and some day we shall find justice for him and we can only hope it is soon and in our lifetime. I find it hard that no one has challenged this minister on these statement. They are murderers and some day they shall be called upon to answer for all these transgressions,”said the SWADEPA President who worked closely with the assassinated lawyer within the MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF).