MBABANE:”Eswatini is an absolute Monarchy where human rights defenders are arrested, tortured and killed for demanding democracy” Human Rights Watch(HRW) concluded in its latest world report.
Human Rights Watch(HRW) is an international,nonprofit organization that investigates and reports on human rights violations.
The reputable international human rights organization cited the killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and, the politically motivated conviction of pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, as part of the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders in eSwatini.
“In Eswatini, an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986, the year 2023 started with the brutal killing of Thulani Maseko, a prominent human rights lawyer and opposition activist. More than two years after a series of protests, there has been no accountability for the security forces’ crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. As in past elections where political parties were banned from participating, general elections were held in September with little expectation that they would bring about any meaningful change in the country.Two members of parliament, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, who were arrested in July 2021 were found guilty of all charges against them, including murder and terrorism.Civic space continues to be under threat as the expression of dissent is routinely restricted”, the report states.
In the same report, Human Rights Watch further noted that, there “has been no progress toward instituting the much-awaited multi-stakeholder national dialogue, despite recommendations from regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)”.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.
On another note, the report states that, eSwatini authorities failed to ensure accountability for the security forces’ crackdown on pro-democracy protesters that began two years ago, which led to the death of at least forty-six(46) people as well as other serious human rights abuses.
“Since pro-democracy demonstrations began in May 2021, the government has intensified its clampdown on dissenting views by arresting government critics on bogus charges, interfering with peaceful assembly, and resisting calls for democratic reforms. It has failed to conduct a transparent, independent, and impartial investigation into the killings and other human rights violations resulting from the security forces’ excessive use of force. Despite repeated calls by Eswatini’s international partners and other actors for rights reforms, the government has made no progress in addressing the country’s deteriorating human rights record”, reads the report in part.
Eswatini is ruled by King Mswati as an absolute Monarch, political parties are banned from participating in elections while human rights defenders are arrested, tortured or killed merely for demanding democracy.
The late human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko(pic: supplied).