Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in South Africa – party

Mlungisi Makhanya, the main opposition leader in Eswatini, has reportedly been poisoned in what his party describes as an assassination attempt. Makhanya, 46, is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in South Africa, where he has been living in exile for the past two years due to threats against his life following a violent crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

According to the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), Makhanya has been stabilized but remains in critical condition. The incident raises serious concerns about the safety of political dissidents in Eswatini, where the government has been accused of silencing dissent.

Alpheous Nxumalo, a spokesman for the Eswatini government, has denied any state involvement in the poisoning, asserting that the government does not engage in assassination or poisoning. However, Pudemo insists that the attack is linked to the upcoming protests planned for next month, which aim to demand multi-party elections in a country that currently allows only independent candidates to run for parliament.

King Mswati III, who has ruled since 1986, governs by decree and has faced mounting criticism for his lavish lifestyle and suppression of opposition. The government has consistently denied accusations of human rights abuses, despite incidents such as the killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko last year, which sparked widespread outrage.

Makhanya has previously faced violent attacks; his home was allegedly firebombed in September 2022, an incident attributed to state agents. Now residing in Pretoria with his family, he leads Pudemo, a pro-democracy party that, while theoretically permitted, is effectively barred from participating in elections.

Details surrounding the poisoning incident suggest a deliberate act of aggression. According to Pudemo, Makhanya was poisoned in the early hours of Tuesday at his home in Pretoria by an unidentified young individual, whom they described as an “agent of evil intent” working for the Swazi government. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, where he was later placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Upon receiving medical attention, Makhanya reportedly informed both police and doctors that he had been poisoned and robbed of his cell phones. Pudemo’s deputy president, Wandile Dludlu, revealed that an “extremely dangerous and fatal” pesticide was used in the poisoning attempt, labeling it a targeted assassination attempt.

The Eswatini government dismissed these claims, stating that law enforcement operates with a commitment to ethics and professionalism, asserting they only apprehend suspects to bring them to justice alive, not dead. Nxumalo emphasized that the government does not engage in violent retribution.

In light of the attack, Pudemo has called for international support to ensure Makhanya’s safety and the protection of his family during his hospital stay. The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), comprising Swazi exiles in South Africa, condemned the incident as a blatant assassination attempt and urged the South African government to take action against Swazi state agents targeting pro-democracy activists.

The political climate in Eswatini has been tense, with security forces accused of killing numerous protesters who blame the current regime for the country’s lack of development. In 2021, student-led protests against alleged police brutality escalated into broader demands for political reform, resulting in violent clashes that led to the deaths of at least 46 people, according to Human Rights Watch. The government, however, disputes this figure, claiming that police were responding to violent attacks.

“This is a political struggle between the oppressed masses and the autocratic monarchy,” Dludlu stated, affirming that Pudemo remains committed to holding the planned protests next month despite the recent attack on their leader.

As Eswatini continues to grapple with political repression, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that can lead to meaningful reforms and an end to the cycle of violence against dissenters. Makhanya’s case exemplifies the risks faced by those advocating for democracy in a country where dissent is met with severe consequences.