By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE: Government purported investigation into Thabani Nkomonye's death is a political strategy to defuse the ongoing calls for democratic reforms and protests against police brutality, Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) told the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC).

Speaking during an interview with the BBC, the Students President said as young people they were members of the community before being students hence the issues and injustices affecting the communities affect them directly.

"We are the young people of this country, we are the future of this country. We are not going to let one man intimidate and drive us anyhow in our own country, we are the last generation to be oppressed" he said.

The Students President further mentioned that as students they went to Parliament to deliver a petition and among the demands was the call for a democratic government.

"One of the demands is that we want a democratic Government, we want a government for the people" said the Students Union President.  

He further mentioned that they did not trust the inquest that has been instituted by government on Thabani’s death adding that this government lacked integrity. The Students President said it was for that reason they were calling for democracy since in a democratic Swaziland there would be a police service that would protect the people of this country and account to an independent body.

Responding to the allegations on BBC, Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini said people were free to express themselves and demand justice regarding the death Thabani through the protests while observing COVID-19 regulations. He said Government launched an investigation to gather the truth on Thabani's death and the investigations would be conducted publicly to enhance transparency.