"Calling For Better Living Conditions, Democracy And Rule Of Law Is Not An Offense"
A Harare-based law firm has condemned the murder of Thulani Rudolf Maseko, a human rights lawyer and political activist in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Maseko was allegedly shot dead at his home on Saturday 21 January in the evening.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, Shava Law Chambers said calling for better living conditions, democracy and rule of law is not an offence in the laws of Eswatini. Reads the law firm’s statement on the death of Mr Maseko:
Our Ref:
Your Ref: SLC-RIGHTS AND BUSINESS CENTER’S MESSAGE ON THE DEATH OF THULANI MASEKO, A HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER AND CHAMPION WHO WAS MURDERED IN HIS HOME ON THE 21ST OF JANUARY 2023 IN SWAZILAND
The painful circumstances of the death of a champion of human rights Mr Thulani Rudolf Maseko are shocking. Mr Maseko was assassinated in his home on the evening of 21 January 2023 in Swaziland.
The biography of Mr Maseko cannot be ignored. He was one of the founding members of the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network and he was involved in several platforms that advocated for the protection of human rights not just in his country but in the SADC region, the whole of Africa and the globe. He was imprisoned and persecuted for his conscious belief in human and people’s rights. His death is a great loss to everyone. It is a great loss to the SADC region, the whole of Africa and the globe. The circumstances of his death have left everyone with a deep wound. It can only be prudent to join hands and amplify the voices of those demanding swift action from the Swaziland law enforcement authorities and that SADC and AU must amplify the clarion call for action by Eswathini law enforcement authorities.
Activism is not an offense. Calling for better living conditions, democracy and rule of law is not an offense in the laws of Eswathini.
The high-handedness with which the Eswathini authorities have dealt with descending voices is regrettable, within this context fingers are pointing at Eswathini as being behind the brutal assassination of Mr Maseko.
It is our hope and trust that Eswathini law enforcement authorities will act, investigate and bring to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
We express our deepest condolences to the family, Africa at large, all human rights defenders and the globe. WE SAY MAY THULANI RUDOLF MASEKO’S SOUL REST IN PEACE.
