By Zweli Martin Dlamini

When other emaSwati who were victims of brutality perpetrated by State security officers responded by killing the police,soldiers and warders,eSwatini Government would not conclude a press conference or statement without mentioning that,’terrorists’ were killing security officers.

But amid consistent media reports suggesting that,convicted pro-democracy MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza is being assaulted in prison and there’s a plot to poison and kill him,the Government is silent just because the lives of those calling for democracy are not valued in this country.

But the worse mistake is to underestimate the collective power of the citizens,emaSwati might take time to react against oppression but,they are not fools.

Government previously released a series of press statements questioning why international human rights organizations were silent amid killing of security officers,the question is;why is the Government killing and jailing those calling for democracy?.

MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza was arrested and convicted merely for calling for democracy, his businesses were destroyed and lost everything but,there are those who still think they haven’t done enough to destroy him,they want him dead just for calling for an elected Prime Minister.

As journalists,we are now reporting about the assault of the pro-democracy MP and the plot to poison and  kill him,the eSwatini Government is silent.

Once emaSwati rebel against this cruel and oppressive regime with some resorting to targeting security officers,we will be here,reporting as the events unfold.

It’s very unfortunate that,some will label us terrorists but we won’t be intimidated,we will report without fear or favour and correct any false narrative particularly in the event Government “tries to mislead the international community saying security officers are just being killed”.

The right to life was not meant to be enjoyed by security officers and only those in power,MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza must come out of prison alive and health and any sickness or death will be attributed to the King’s Tinkhundla regime.

Mswati and his Government must ensure that Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza doesn’t die inside prison or shortly after being released,anything that might happen to him,Mswati and his regime will have to account.

This tendency of jailing other emaSwati merely for having different political views suggests that,this country is ruled by a dictator and dictators have no place in modern society.

It is the duty of every citizen to promote peace and respect for human rights,the Government cannot unleash State security officers to kill civilians and then expect the victims to keep quiet.