MBABANE:King Mswati’s police and soldiers have intensified a crackdown on pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders on the Eve of the June 29 massacre commemoration.
Eswatini will commemorate three(3) years since the 29th June 2021 massacre,dozens of innocent civilians were killed by Mswati’s soldiers and the police merely for demanding democracy.
But in the early hours on Friday,the police abducted Paul Matimela,the Deputy Secretary General of the Swaziland Liberation Movement(SWALIMO) before raiding the home of former Senate Deputy President Ngomyayona Gamedze,the Chairman of Sive Siyinqaba National Movement.
Thantaza Silolo,the Spokesperson of the Swaziland Liberation Movement(SWALIMO) confirmed to this Swaziland News that,the organization’s Deputy Secretary General was kept at Lobamba Police Station,he was subsequently released after being heavily assaulted.
“We have spoken to him and he is currently in pain following beatings and torture accompanied by endless questioning by the state police”, said the SWALIMO Spokesperson.
Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati,the Police Spokesperson declined to comment.
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF) Executive Command deployed soldiers with a helicopter at Siphofaneni-Phuzamoya to conduct surveillance in the home of exiled Siphofaneni pro-democracy Member of Parliament(MP) Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane on Friday morning,some residents who known supporters of the MP who doubles as SWALIMO President,were allegedly harassed and assaulted by soldiers.
It has been disclosed that,members of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) were also abducted,Deputy President Wandile Dludlu told this publication that, they were still compiling the list of their members who were abducted by the police and soldiers.
Eswatini is not democratic,political parties are banned from participating in elections while human rights defenders,independent journalists and political activists are arrested,tortured or killed for demanding democracy.
King Mswati’s security forces abducting pro-democracy activists ahead of June 29 massacre commemoration, helicopter deployed to conduct surveillance on MP Magawugawu Simelane’s home.