MBABANE:Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of Eswatini’s main and largest political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) has called upon the Federal Bureau of Investigations(FBI) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of lawyer Thulani Maseko.
The human rights lawyer, a former PUDEMO Secretary General(SG) and Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) was assassinated on the 21st January 2023, a few hours after King Mswati threatened those calling for democratic reforms saying his mercenaries will deal with them.
“PUDEMO has noted the very disparaging and false narratives around the assassination of Cde Thulani Maseko, and we want to make it clear that our position as an organization is that the assassination of Cde Thulani Maseko must be subjected to international investigation. An independent investigation in line with international norms, led by the UN and involving global top-notch institutions such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). We would not be hoodwinked into misdirected and false discussions about this brutal assassination based on the whims of a government that we are very clear was involved in his killing.We demand, as we so do, that an urgently backed international investigation be carried out. Further to that, we want an investigation into the June 2021 Massacre, the killing of SFDF leader Cde Muzi Mmema”, said the PUDEMO President when delivering the organization’s End of Year-New Year statement this week.
On another note,PUDEMO expressed support for the the work and efforts of Tanele Maseko, the wife to the late human rights lawyer who continues to campaign for “Justice for Thulani Maseko” while condemning the misguided attack by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo directed to widow.
“PUDEMO condemns in the strongest possible terms the misguided attack of Cde Tanele Maseko by the Tinkhundla government spokesperson, Mr. Alpheous Nxumalo. Alpheous Nxumalo, a political grasshopper with no ears on his head but in his belly, has no business lecturing a principled comrade like Tanele Maseko on anything”, said the PUDEMO President.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, PUDEMO maintained that an international investigation must be launched to investigate the brutal killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.
The late human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.