MBABANE- The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Maxwell Dlamini, has urged the International Community to pressure the Kingdom of Eswatini to respect human rights and rule of law
Maxwell, along with Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko were arrested four years combined where they were facing charges of allegedly contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
The former Students Representative Committee (SRC) of University of Eswatini, was speaking during an interview with the MUVI Television in Zambia about the human rights situation in Eswatini and the shrinking democratic space in the SADAC region.
Dlamini highlighted that the government of Eswatini should align themselves with the commitment of SADAC frame work on elections and democracy as well as continental commitments.
‘’ The people want to enjoy their own freedom. The people want to elect their own government,’’ he said.
He alleged that during the political unrest in June 2021 the government hired mercenaries and disguise them as security experts. to control the situation. It may be noted that the government denied such allegations, however they confirmed that the Republic of Russia was providing them support in the security department.
According to the former UNESWA SRC member, the government was slowly in the SADAC proposed dialogue, which will bring peace, security and harmony. In the meantime, the government of Eswatini Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo told reporters that the there were no preparations for dialogue but the focus was on national elections.
He said at the summit for democracy 2023, they would engage with other civil society and stakeholders especially with the incoming SADAC Troika Chairperson who is being the president of Zambia to push the government of Eswatini to facilitate quick and urgent dialogue.
He further said they were calling for an independent and internally renown expert to investigate the murder of the Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko. Maseko was gunned down at his home Infront of his family by unknown people on January 21, 2023.
The human rights activists also touched on the impact of climate change in the continent, and advocated for climate justice so that the environment is saved. He added that it was very disappointing that for such a resourceful continent to fail to provide necessary basics including clean water, good health, and free education.
The human rights activists denied that they were being funded by western countries to push their agenda, instead he said the material conditions they were facing on daily basis as young people were driving them to be what they are.
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