MBABANE: The United Nations(UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights has been urged to launch an independent investigation into the killing of eSwatini highly regarded human rights lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko, the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF).
This is contained in the United States(US) Parliament targeted sanctions resolution on eSwatini human rights violations, the resolution was adopted by both the Republicans and Democrats Senators on Wednesday.
It comes after the eSwatini Government tried to launch a propaganda machinery to sabotage the investigation into the human rights lawyer alleging that, he was killed amid infighting within the pro-democracy movement.
But the State subsequently refused to welcome or allow an international independent investigation into the death of the human rights lawyer, saying the same police suspected to have played a role in the killing, will conduct the investigation.
Maseko was killed allegedly through a joint operation involving the police, soldiers and mercenaries and this, happened a few hours after King Mswati threatened those calling for democracy saying his mercenaries will deal with them.
But apart from the assassination of the lawyer, the eSwatini undemocratic Government “has intensified a crack-down on pro-democracy activists including independent journalists” who criticize the Monarchy and the Tinkhundla system of governance that centralizes power on the King and a royal ensemble.
Dozens were arrested,tortured and killed while two(2) pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested on politically motivated criminal charges merely for demanding democracy.
Another MP Mduduzi Gawzela Simelane who is critical of the regime fled to exile and was subsequently granted asylum by the British Government.
“Calls on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct an independent investigation into Mr. Maseko’s assassination and human rights violations in Eswatini”, reads the resolution in part.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment on the latest developments.
Nxumalo had earlier mocked the U.S. saying Government and the King “are not afraid of sanctions”, he went on to threaten the lawyer’s widow Tanele Maseko who was demanding justice for her assassinated husband.
The widow was subsequently harassed by the police and detained at the Oshoek merely for making statements saying “ her husband was killed by a horrible dictator”, the recent harassment attracted the Senators of the United States who were lobbying for the targeted sanctions resolution to be passed.
Eswatini is not democratic, under the Tinkhundla system of governance, political parties are banned from participating in elections while independent journalists are arrested or forced into exile for criticizing the King and his Government, demanding accountability.
MPs are also not allowed to criticize King Mswati’s Speech from the Throne or question his extravagant spending.
The tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line and currently relies heavily, on foreign aid to fund social programs.
The late human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.