Eswatini’s main opposition leader, Mlungisi Makhanya, has reportedly been poisoned in an assassination attempt and is currently receiving treatment in a South African hospital.
Makhanya, who is 46 years old, has been living in South Africa since 2022 after his house was fire-bombed in Eswatini, a country where he fears for his safety due to a crackdown on pro-democracy activists.
According to his party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), Makhanya is in critical condition but has been stabilized.
They allege that the poisoning occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when an unnamed person entered his home in Pretoria, South Africa.
Pudemo claims that the assailant was acting on behalf of the Eswatini government, which has denied any involvement, stating that it does not engage in such actions.
The poisoning comes just before planned protests calling for multi-party elections in Eswatini, where political parties are not allowed to participate in elections.
King Mswati III has ruled the country since 1986 and is known for suppressing dissent while living extravagantly.
Makhanya’s poisoning follows the recent killing of Thulani Rudolf Maseko, a human rights lawyer opposed to the king, and highlights the ongoing struggle for democracy in Eswatini.
The Pudemo party has called for international support to protect Makhanya and his family during this crisis. Many in the community are outraged, with calls for the South African government to intervene against what they see as targeted attacks on activists fighting for freedom.
This situation illustrates the ongoing conflict between the Eswatini government and pro-democracy activists, who are risking their lives in the fight against autocratic rule.
It serves as a reminder of the serious risks faced by those advocating for political change in such oppressive regimes. This information comes from a report by the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wndygyqgpo