Gunmen kill Eswatini opposition politician: spokesman

Gunmen in Eswatini killed a outstanding opposition politician and human rights lawyer at his dwelling, a spokesman instructed AFP on Sunday, hours after the nation’s absolute monarch challenged activists against his rule.

Thulani Maseko was shot useless on Saturday evening by unknown attackers in Luhleko, round 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital Mbabane, opposition spokesman Sikelela Dlamini stated.

He was instructed that “assassins shot him by way of the window whereas he was inside (the) home along with his household”, he stated.

“Particulars are nonetheless scant (and), owing to the trauma his relations are present process, they don’t seem to be but prepared to talk,” Dlamini added.

The federal government despatched condolences to the household, saying Maseko’s loss of life was a “loss for the nation” and that police had been trying to find the killers.

Maseko was a number one human rights lawyer and columnist in Eswatini who had a pending courtroom battle with King Mswati III over the monarch’s resolution to rename the nation Eswatini by decree.

The nation’s title was modified from Swaziland to Eswatini to mark the fiftieth anniversary of its independence from Britain in 2018.

Maseko’s place was that the king had not adopted the structure within the course of.

– ‘No shock’ –

In 2014, he and the editor of The Nation journal, Bheki Makhubu, had been jailed for contempt of courtroom over articles vital of the federal government and judiciary.

Maseko was the founding father of MSF, a coalition of opposition events, associations and church buildings.

His loss of life comes simply hours after the king challenged activists preventing to finish Africa’s final absolute monarchy.

“Folks shouldn’t shed tears and complain about mercenaries killing them,” King Mswati had stated.

“These individuals began the violence first however when the state institutes a crackdown on them for his or her actions, they make plenty of noise blaming King Mswati for bringing in mercenaries,” he stated.

Final week, the Swaziland Solidarity Community (SSN) alleged that the king had employed mercenaries, primarily white Afrikaners from neighbouring South Africa, to assist Eswatini’s safety forces suppress rising opposition to his regime.

However authorities spokesman Alpheous Nxumalo stated “no hitmen have been employed”.

Rights group Freedom Beneath Legislation, which operates throughout southern Africa, pointed a finger on the authorities.

“One way or the other the gorgeous information that Thulani Maseko has been gunned down in chilly blood comes as no shock,” it stated in a press release.

“A ceaseless and fearless human-rights lawyer, an outspoken critic of the regime in his beloved Eswatini, Thulani had all too lengthy suffered by the hands of a heedless regime.”

– ‘Highly effective voice’ –

“No-one may be misled by the cynical message of condolence put out on behalf of the federal government,” it added.

The US Embassy at Mbabane expressed its “profound unhappiness” and prolonged “deepest condolences to Mr. Maseko’s household, mates and admirers around the globe”.

“Eswatini and the world have misplaced a strong voice for non violence and human rights,” the US Embassy assertion added.

King Mswati, who has dominated since 1986, is usually accused of human rights violations.

The king, who can dissolve parliament, the federal government and appoint or dismiss judges, additionally instructions the police and military.

In June 2021, pro-democracy protests descended into violence leading to a number of deaths.

str-ger/ea/jj