MBABANE:Zweli Martin Dlamini,the editor of this independent online publication, the Swaziland News was recently awarded a security funding by an international human rights organization, after the eSwatini Government through its Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo made serious threats against him on NewsRoom Afrika TV.
The Spokesperson stated that,the eSwatini regime will eventually apprehend the editor to answer on terrorism charges,it is alleged that the regime has been vigorously hunting the editor for almost five(5) years now with an intention to kill him.
Dlamini is being hunted and persecuted for writing critical articles against the eSwatini regime.
Eswatini is ruled by Mswati as an absolute Monarch, political parties are banned while human rights defenders are arrested, tortured or even killed for demanding democracy.
It is alleged that, the regime recently assassinated human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF), more human rights defenders including the editor remain under threat.
The editor thanked the human rights organization for the support, the name of the organization cannot be revealed for security reasons.
“The support came at a time when it was needed the most, by declaring the Swaziland News and the editor as terrorists, the regime was seeking to discourage international partners from associating themselves with this publication and we are happy to note that, the world is rejecting this politicking in support of independent journalism”, said the editor.
On another note, some international organizations are also analyzing Nxumalo’s past interviews about the editor to ascertain if more support is needed.
One pro-democracy leader supported by organizing lawyers and Advocates for the editor in a matter against the Government at the Mpumalanga High Court, Senior Advocate Myron Dewrance and lawyer Godrich Gardee, the former Secretary General of the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) are part of the editor’s legal team.
“We appreciate all the support from different stakeholders, we wouldn’t be able to stand against a cruel regime without external support, the regime is fighting against an independent voice of the people”, said the editor.
Editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.