#JusticeForThulani: ISHR echoes SouthernDefenders condemnation of the assassination of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko

In Eswatini, many will attest that Maseko persistently preached the message of peace and love. In the face of great adversity, Maseko remained steadfast in the fight for freedom and justice, courageously raising awareness of the injustices suffered by the people of Eswatini. It is deeply saddening that he has paid the ultimate price with his life in this gruesome and callous manner.

While the government of Eswatini issued a statement condemning the murder of Maseko and its intention to investigate, SouthernDefenders asserts that, given the political environment, only an independent investigation can ensure that those responsible for the assassination of Maseko and many others brutally injured and killed are brought to justice and their families rightfully compensated. We, therefore, call on SADC, the African Union, and the international community to hold the leadership of King Mswati III accountable for the violence that continues to be meted against the people of Eswatini, merely for advocating for their recognized fundamental human rights, including political participation.

SouthernDefenders is gravely concerned that the killing of Maseko signifies an increasingly dangerous deterioration of the political crisis in Eswatini. It is terrifying to observe the monarch clamp down on the people it is meant to serve and protect. Eswatini as a member of SADC and signatory to its Treaty is bound to uphold Article 4 of the Treaty which explicitly states that the principles guiding the acts of its members are human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Article 5 of the Treaty further requires all states to promote and defend peace and security. SouthernDefenders reminds Eswatini that as a member state of SADC, its government should comply with the principles and guidelines to which the region is bound. The state of affairs in Eswatini is a clear reflection of the failure of the country’0s leadership to defend and maintain peace, security and transparency for its citizens. SADC cannot continue to stand by and watch.

As SouthernDefenders, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences to Thulani Maseko’s wife Tanele, their children, the Maseko family, and the human rights community in Eswatini. We reassert our support for and uncompromising solidarity with the people of Eswatini in their continued quest for democracy. We call on the greater Africa and its friends to stand in solidarity with us on behalf of Maseko. His unshaken commitment to the achievement of justice and freedom will be our beacon for all time.

SouthernDefenders strongly urges the Eswatini government to:

1. Immediately allow for an internationally supported, thorough, independent and expeditious investigation into the circumstances of the killing of Thulani Maseko and others killed since 2021, to ensure justice and full accountability.
2. Respect, protect and promote the rights of all under the jurisdiction of Eswatini to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and political participation even if they hold opposing views.
3. Release all political prisoners and refrain from the excessive use of force to disperse protestors and refrain from the arbitrary arrest, detention, harassment or intimidation of pro-democracy activists and others expressing opposing views.
4. Immediately end the violent rhetoric against pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders.
5. Immediately allow for an inclusive and genuine political dialogue to usher in a democratic dispensation in Eswatini.

SouthernDefenders calls on SADC to:

1. Immediately set up a task force or oversight mechanism to ensure a swift, thorough and independent investigation into the arbitrary killing of Thulani Maseko and all other pro-democracy activists in Eswatini, that have taken place since 2021.
2. Hold King Mswati III and the government of Eswatini accountable for the ongoing gross violations of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force against protesters, abductions and extra-judicial killings of activists.
3. To evoke Article 4 and 5 of the Treaty which clearly stipulate the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights that guide the acts of member states, and the democratic and political institutions that are to achieve this, taking all necessary steps to ensure adherence by Eswatini.
4. Ensure the government of Eswatini respects, protects and fulfils its human rights obligations, in accordance with international and regional human rights law and standards as set out in the African Charter for Human and People’s Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
5. Robustly engage with King Mswati III and his government, opposition and civil society leaders, and other relevant stakeholders in and outside Eswatini to urgently broker an end to the ongoing political crisis and the ushering in of democratic reforms.

Background on the Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Eswatini:

Since June – July 2021, one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarch has been rocked by nationwide protests which began against police brutality but have now metamorphosed into sustained demands of democratic reforms, and an end to the excessive opulence of the Monarch, in the face of being one of the region’s poorest economies. In response, King Mswati III’s government has retaliated with excessive force, arbitrary arrests, detention, and abductions of pro-democracy leaders and protestors, as well as the shutdown of the internet, and blanket bans on protests.  More than 80 people have been killed, 200 plus injured, and thousands of others arrested and detained. Currently, two Members of Parliament have been arbitrarily detained for 18 months, facing criminal prosecution under the Suppression of Terrorism Act in relation to their involvement in the protests. SouthernDefenders has directly received reports of lawyers and judges being harassed, threatened, and intimidated for their real or suspected support of the ongoing pro-democracy movement. Just last month, SouthernDefenders assisted one human rights lawyer who narrowly escaped death after gunshots were fired at his car.  Fearing for his life, he was forced into exile, like many other citizens.

Despite efforts by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to resolve the crisis, King Mswati III has ignored the pleas of citizens, opposition politicians, civil society, the regional and international community, and instead escalated the government’s crackdown on dissenting voices. He has openly called for an “eye for an eye” and failed to genuinely engage in dialogue. Recently, the government was accused of hiring mercenaries to assist its security forces in suppressing opposition voices. Credible reports indicate that Mercenaries wearing baklavas, are working alongside State security forces, and manning roadblocks in the country. The existence of mercenaries in the country and the chilling remarks made by King Mswati III point to a state-sponsored assassination of Maseko.’

For further enquiries please contact

• Washington Katema, Director: [email protected] (+27 73 620 2608)
• Meamande Wamukwamba, Programmes Manager: [email protected] (+27 630 072 402)

Endorsed by the following civil society organisations:

1. DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights
2. International Federation for Human Rights – FIDH, in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
3. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
4. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
5. Front Line Defenders 
6. Panos Institute Southern Africa
7. Center for Democracy and Development (CDD)
8. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
9. Centre for Human Rights 
10. International Commission of Jurists – Kenya 
11. Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
12. Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (AfricanDefenders)
13. DefendDefenders 
14. Mozambique Human Rights Defenders Network (RMDDH)
15. University of Pretoria
16. Zimbabwe Human Rights Association 
17. Observatoire des droits de l’Homme au Rwanda – ODHR
18. Seinoli Legal Centre – Lesotho 
19. Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)
20. SADC-Lawyers Association (SADCLA)
21. The National Association of Democratic Lawyers 
22. Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition 
23. Plataforma da Sociedade Civil em Manica (PLASOC)
24. Associação Socorro de Moçambique (SOCORRO)
25. Faith and Hope Association
26. Associação Moçambicana Sou Jovem
27. Associação para o Desenvolvimento Comunitário
28. Associação MW-Chimoio
29. Associação Moçambicana de Mulheres com Deficiência
30. Associação Dos Direitos Da Vida Humana
31. Silver Lining Moçambique
32. Tearfund
33. Associação ADCEM
34. Missão Cristã para Desenvolvimento Rural
35. Rede Comunitária
36. Associação AkA Power
37. Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (BOCONGO)
38. Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET)
39. Human Rights Defenders Coalition – Malawi 
40. Open Society-Africa 
41. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
42. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe 
43. Freedom House 
44. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum 
45. Regional Watch for Human Rights 
46. Southern Africa People Solidarity Network (SAPSN)
47. Letsema Centre for Development and Democracy 
48. Ligue Burundaise des droits de l’homme Iteka
49. Kenya Human Rights Commission
50. KUTAKESA 
51. Amnesty International
52. Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI)
53. Zimbabwe Human Rights Associate
54. Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains
55. Zambia Council for Social Development 
56. Yetu Infotech Collective 
57. Defenders Coalition
58. Réseau Nigerien des Défenseurs des Droits Humains
59. Mqanduli community advice office
60. Centro de Estudos Moçambicanos e Internacionais (CEMO)
61. Raise the Young Foundation 
62. ODIMA NGO
63. Swaziland Concerned Church Leaders
64. Centre for Women Human Rights Defenders in Africa 
65. Southern Africa Women Human Rights Defenders 
66. Political Prisoners in Africa 
67. Civic Space Network 
68. African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders 
69. Chapter One Foundation
70. Gun Free SA
71. Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement, South Africa 
72. West African Human Rights Defenders’ Network
73. KwaZulu-Natal Monitor
74. Zimrights 
75. The Good Samaritan Association
76. LDDH Djibouti
77. The Public Interest Practice 
78. Integrity Magazine News 
79. Center for Artists’ Human Rights in Southern Africa
80. La Via Campesina Southern and Eastern Africa
81. Swaziland Concerned Church Leaders
82. Zambia Human Rights Defenders Network (ZHRDN)
83. African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS)
84. Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly
85. International Labour, Research and Information Group (ILRIG)
86. Khulumani Support Group
87. International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) CSO National Chapter
88. Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust 
89. Botswana Watch Organization
90. International Commission of Jurists
91. Network of the independent Commission for Human rights in North Africa CIDH AFRICA
92. Free Press Initiative Zambia 
93. Lumiere Synergie pour le Developpement
94. Civic Commission for Africa (CCFA)
95. Foundation for Socio-Economic Justice 
96. Political Parties Assembly (PPA)
97. Narasha Community Development Group 
98. ProjectHeard 
99. Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC)
100. Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) 
101. Action for Civic Participation 
102. Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF)
103. Fórum Nacional de Rádios Comunitárias (FORCOM)
104. South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network
105. People’s Action for Accountability and Good Governance in Zambia (PAAGZ)
106. Lawyers for Human Rights (South Africa)
107. Kanye Independent Living Centre (KILC)
108. Jamaa Resource Initiatives 
109. Protection International Africa 
110. Partenariat pour la Protection Integree-PPI/DRC
111. Observatoire des droits de l’homme au Rwanda ( ODHR)
112. Chitungwiza Residents Trust
113. Vostile Creatives Trust 
114. Jersey Farm Advice and Information Centre
115. Associação Comunitária Matsatsi
116. ActionAid South Africa
117. Transnational Institute (TNI)
118. Permanent Peoples Tribunal
119. Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC)
120. Associação de Assistência Psicológica à Comunidade
121. Anti- Repression Working Group C19 Peoples’ Coalition 
122. National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders
123. The Peace Centre 
124. Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD)
125. Centre for Artists’ Human Rights in Southern Africa
126. REMAC 
127. Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council 
128. Haki Africa 
129. AntiRepression Collective 
130. La LDDH
131. People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO)
132. Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia
133. Bridging the Gap Botswana 
134. National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya 
135. AIXARRA Restorative Justice Forum 
136. Operation Young Vote (OYV)
137. Associação Mwana Wamudhara
138. Justice Access Point
139. Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC)
140. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
141. ACACON
142. Cradock Advice Centre
143. Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC)
144. Albert Luthuli Human Rights Advice Centre

Endorsed by the following human rights defenders:

1. Arnold Tsunga 
2. Prof. Adriano Nuvunga
3. Lucia da Silveira 
4. Tiseke Kasambala 
5. Joseph Bikanda 
6. Hassan Shire 
7. Memory Bandera
8. Alice Mogwe
9. Corlett Letlojane
10. Deprose Muchena
11. Prof. Sishuwa Sishuwa 
12. Roshnee Narrandes
13. Washington Katema 
14. Olga Muthambe
15. Thapelo Ndlovu
16. Simphiwe Sidu
17. Meamande Wamukwamba
18. Constance Mukarati
19. Yared Hailemariam
20. Jacob van Garderen 
21. Charles Chimedza
22. Jose Jaime Macuane
23. Laswet Savadye
24. Bongani Ngwenya 
25. Sheila Nhancale 
26. Laura Rwambiwa
27. Keiso Mohloboli
28. Zakaria Abdillahi
29. Tatenda Mazarura
30. Makanaka Makonese
31. Tankiso Motipi
32. Roselyn Hanzi
33. Kamau Ngugi
34. Gloria Madegwa
35. Longton Jamil
36. Regina Opondo
37. Margareth Nangacovie
38. Blessing Gorejena
39. Annah Moyo 
40. Lloyd Kuveya 
41. Norman Lala Tjombe 
42. Vusumuzi Sifile
43. Fidelis Mudimu
44. Thamsanqa Z Hlatshwayo
45. Mark Heywood 
46. Faith Munyati
47. Mpangi Kwenge
48. Martin Masiga 
49. Munjodzi Muatandiri
50. Thulani Mswelanto 
51. Muzi Masuku
52. Tabita Lilungwe 
53. Guess Nyirenda
54. Lepeli Moeketsi 
55. Dumisile Shabangu 
56. Felisberto Pedro Andreque
57. Siphosami Malunga 
58. Kumbirai Mafunda
59. Justice Alfred Mavedzenge 
60. Maxwell Nkambule 
61. Busisiwe Zasekhaya 
62. Ronald Chikwenhere
63. Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka 
64. Ashwanee Budoo-Scholts 
65. João Nhampossa
66. Francisco Rafael Gale
67. Micaela Bungueia
68. Henriques Henriques 
69. Lungile Tshabalala
70. Assimone Bonifácio
71. Menezes Lino
72. Georgina Nicolau Cauzande 
73. Beatriz Augusta Roque Remane 
74. Danilo Mairoce
75. Pedro Tawanda
76. Rângel António
77. Belita José Ernesto Njirazafa 
78. Felisberto Andreque
79. Afonso Costina
80. Dealton de Araujo 
81. Raúl Maharate 
82. Baltazar José Fazenda
83. Edgar Jone 
84. Antonio Muredzere
85. Líria de Araújo
86. Julia Wachave
87. Isabel Próstamo
88. Otto Saki 
89. Aly Caetano 
90. Albertina Armando
91. Mitilage Nantica
92. Félix Fernando chinanga
93. Isabel Matos
94. Boniface Cheembe
95. Janet Zhou
96. Godinho Cristóvão
97. Whitney Mulobela
98. Leah Diana Mitaba
99. Sinah Teemane
100. Mary Pais Da Silva
101. Nikiwe Kaunda 
102. Custódio Duma
103. Annah Moyo
104. Andrew Matayataya
105. Vusumuzi Sifile
106. Dr. Musa Kika
107. Bennitto Motitswe
108. Anschaire Nikoyagize
109. Davis Malombe
110. Munyaradzi Tsunga
111. Dzikamai Bere
112. Tawanda Mugari
113. Me Zakaria
114. Munyandilikirwa Laurent
115. Barrister Tola Thompson Adebayor
116. Monametsi Sokwe
117. Joan Chirwa
118. Stanley Nyamanhindi
119. Ghalib Galant
120. Danilo Mairoce
121. Barrister Mayomi Afekuiah
122. Ferosa Chaúque
123. Dra. Sheila
124. NAJi Moulay lahsen
125. Esther Tawiah
126. Alice Kuveya
127. Rângel António
128. Thapelo Mohapi
129. Linda Kasonde
130. Henriques Henriques
131. Wayne Ncube
132. Omardine Zacarias Omar
133. Jone Arão Bambamba
134. Maungo T Mooki
135. Malven Daka
136. Olive Moore
137. Creva Pereira Gama
138. Wilbert Mandinde
139. Onkabetse Ketshabile
140. James Bidal Asu
141. Barrister Mayomi Afekuiah
142. Gershom Kabaso Jr
143. Thabo Masuku
144. Mark Weinberg
145. Obino Nyambane
146. Dale McKinley
147. Brian Ashley
148. Shariff Bonnie Florencia
149. Elpídeo FA Mutemba
150. Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh
151. Nyeoe Ntene
152. Thozama Dyantyi
153. Sifiso Dladla
154. André Catueira
155. Hassan Shire
156. Líria de Araújo
157. Jacob van Garderen
158. Maurice Ouma Odhiambo
159. Nzira Razao
160. Gianni Tognoni, Secretary General
161. Dzikamai Bere
162. Susan Muriungi
163. Maximilienne NGO MBE
164. Maria Antônia Domingos Campira
165. Mary de Haas
166. Hussein Khalid
167. Marjorie Jobson
168. Yona Wanjala
169. Fiona Dove
170. Brid Brennan
171. Mesud Gebeyehu Reta
172. Melanie SONHAYE KOMBATE
173. Nada Awad
174. Bonsile Mamba- National Chairperson
175. José Ivo Correia
176. Yankuba Keita
177. Frank Mpahlo
178. Sofonea Shale
179. Gift Trapence
180. Adv Tankiso Motipi 
181. Kanni Abdoulaye
182. Hanningtone Amol 
183. Robert R. Kirenga
184. Pascal Mupenda
185. S Nyembe
186. Robert Letsatsi
187. Ferreira Juliasse 
188. Elisa Comé
189. Kelly Gillespie
190. Dr Justice Mavedzenge 
191. Frans Viljoen
192. Felisberto Pedro Andreque
193. Olga Muthambe