By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka, a Researcher at Human Rights Watch, has criticized the eSwatini Government amid consistent refusal to allow an independent,international and credible investigation into the assassination of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.

The Researcher wrote an article for the Daily Maverick this week, questioning the Government’s reluctance to allow the investigation into the death of the MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) Chairperson, the then Secretary General of eSwatini main and largest political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO).

Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka further noted that, lawyers are being targeted in eSwatini and often associated with the actions of their clients.

“Human rights continue to be under threat in Eswatini as civic space, judicial independence, and the rule of law are routinely undermined. A 2025 report on the independence of judges and lawyers in Eswatini by the International Commission of Jurists  (ICJ) explores the difficulties the judiciary faces in operating independently, and the persecution of lawyers.The ICJ found that the legal profession operates in an environment that inhibits lawyers from acting independently. Lawyers are often associated with the actions of their clients by virtue of representing them.They face adverse economic consequences for taking on cases or clients perceived as political, and face major obstacles in relation to cases emanating from the June 2021 unrest”, reads the article in part.

The human rights defender then quoted Tanele Maseko, the wife to the late human rights lawyer confirming that, the eSwatini Government was reluctant to investigate the death of her husband.

“In a country where the principles of equality before the law, justice, accountability and human rights are routinely infringed upon, Tanele had the following to say: “We hope in the Thulani matter and the 2021 massacre that we get an independent and internationally led investigation, and for justice and accountability to prevail. My hope as well is that Thulani will speak and fight beyond the grave,” reads the article in part.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment when asked by this Swaziland News when will the Government investigate the death of Thulani Maseko, however, Nxumalo recently labelled Human Rights Watch a colonial tool established to undermine the Sovereignty of African States including eSwatini, he was speaking to NewsRoom Afrika.

Human Rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was assassinated on the 21st January 2023, a few hours after King Mswati threatened those calling for democracy saying, his mercenaries would deal with them.