Rights activists protested over the murder of Eswatini campaigner Thulani Maseko. Image: Tony Karumba
High tension in Estawini after the killing of Thulani Maseko
Talks of tensions after murder of Maseko were attended by Eswatini Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini and president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Rights activists protested over the murder of Eswatini campaigner Thulani Maseko. Image: Tony Karumba
On Tuesday, Southern Africa’s regional bloc Southern African Development Community (SADC) acknowledged that political tensions were rising in the kingdom of Eswatini after the murder of Thulani Maseko.
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NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE YET
Maseko was shot dead on 21 January 2023, which caused alarm over political violence in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. He was shot through the window of his home in Luhleko, around 50 kilometres from the capital Mbabane.
His murder happened right after King Mswati III had warned activists who defied him not to “shed tears” about “mercenaries killing them”. There have been no arrests over the killing so far.
The SADC called on authorities in Eswatini “to conduct a swift, transparent, and comprehensive investigation” into Maseko’s killing.
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ACTS OF VIOLENCE CAUSES ESCALATION IN TENSIONS
Namibian President Hage Geingob, who chairs the SADC’s politics, defence, and security committee and hosted the talks Tuesday. He said that the acts of violence in Eswatini pointed to “an escalation of the tensions”.
He also called for “calm” in the kingdom between South Africa and Mozambique after the killing of Maseko.
The talks were attended by Eswatini Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini, and the presidents of South Africa and Zambia, Cyril Ramaphosa and Hakainde Hichilema.
They also discussed conflicts in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
MASEKO FOUGHT AGAINST REPRESSION
Maseko fought against state repression in Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland, where political parties have been banned since 1973.
At least 37 people were killed during weeks of anti-monarchy protests in June 2021.
He led a coalition of political and civil rights advocates and religious groups, that was created in November 2021. This was to ‘open conversation’ with King Mswati to seek a way out of the crisis.
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In its final statement the SADC “condemned the upsurge of conflicts and activities of armed groups.” in the eastern region of DR Congo, where Pope Francis began a visit in Kinshasa on Tuesday.
