Mlungisi Makhanya, Eswatini’s opposition leader, was poisoned in South Africa in what is suspected to be an assassination attempt. He is currently hospitalized in critical condition. The incident draws attention to the dangerous climate for political dissenters in Eswatini, where opposition parties are not allowed to participate in elections. While the government denies involvement, the incident coincides with upcoming protests advocating for multi-party elections. Makhanya’s party, Pudemo, is calling for urgent international support for his safety and that of his family.
Mlungisi Makhanya, the leader of Eswatini’s main opposition party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), has reportedly been poisoned in South Africa as part of an alleged assassination attempt. The incident, occurring in Pretoria where he has been living in exile due to fears for his safety amid a crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Eswatini, has left him in a critical condition in the hospital. Pudemo reports that Makhanya was poisoned in the early hours of Tuesday by an unidentified young man, who they believe was used as an agent by the Eswatini government. This incident has heightened tensions ahead of planned protests demanding multi-party elections in the kingdom, where political parties are banned. Alpheous Nxumalo, a government spokesperson, denied any involvement from the state, asserting that the government does not engage in acts of violence against suspects. Makhanya was moved to intensive care following the poisoning, which has drawn significant condemnation and concern from various pro-democracy groups, who describe the event as a serious attack on opposition figures in Eswatini.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, operates as an absolute monarchy under King Mswati III, who has ruled since 1986. The country is marked by a lack of political freedoms, and independent political parties are prohibited from participating in elections. The environment for opposition activists is increasingly dangerous, as evidenced by the violent repression of protests and dissent. Pro-democracy movements, led largely by figures such as Makhanya and his party, Pudemo, have faced violent crackdowns, leading to significant casualties in recent protests. The poisoning of Makhanya occurs against this backdrop of systemic repression, raising serious concerns about the safety of political dissidents in the region, particularly in light of previous incidents of violence against activists.
The poisoning of Mlungisi Makhanya represents a grave escalation in the measures taken against opposition figures in Eswatini. As he remains in critical condition, the implications for the pro-democracy movement are profound, particularly with planned protests on the horizon. There is an urgent call for international intervention to ensure the safety of Makhanya and his family, highlighting the broader fight for political change within Eswatini amidst an oppressive regime.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
