MBABANE:The European Parliament has passed a resolution urging EU to consider suspending donor funding to the Kingdom of eSwatini amid the killing of civilians including human rights defenders by King Mswati.
The resolution was passed and or documented on Wednesday(15th February 2023), it comes after King Mswati allegedly hired mercenaries to kill those calling for democratic reforms including human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko who was assassinated at his home last month.
The State Intelligence Agency was exposed through an electronic evidence this week plotting to kill more political activists including Students Union President Colani Maseko.
“Calls for the EU to review and,where applicable,suspend support programmes for Eswatini where funds risk being used for activities that violate human rights.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Kingdom of Eswatini and to all relevant stakeholders and institutions,” reads the European Parliament resolution in part.
The European Parliament further noted the killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko who was assassinated allegedly by Mswati’s mercenaries and security forces, Maseko was the Chairperson of the pro-democracy Multi-Stakeholder Forum.
“Whereas on 21 January 2023, Thulani Maseko,a prominent human rights and trade union lawyer and chairman of Eswatini pro-democracy organisation the Multi- Stakeholder Forum,renowned for his efforts in advancing democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights,was killed at his home just hours after King Mswati III made threats against members of Eswatini’s pro-democracy movement,” reads the Parliament resolution in part.
Eswatini Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
King Mswati, an absolute Monarch has intensified the killing of civilians including human rights defenders.
This week,this Swaziland News exposed how Defense Principal Secretary Prince Sicalo, Brigadier General Thembinkosi Mngometulu and Major General Lasco plotted to kill human rights defender Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students.
King Mswati(pic sourced: Cape talk).