“They have intended to hurt us, to break our spirit, our moral strength and crush our resilience so that we succumb to their evil desires.” Excerpts from an open letter from prison written by Thulani Maseko in 2015.

We, the undersigned, representing a diverse cross-section of global citizens, including human rights defenders, civil society organizations, women's groups, youth organizations, diplomats, professionals, clergy, and more, write to express our deep concern and condemnation regarding the tragic assassination of renowned human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko in Eswatini. We deplore the act of omission or commission by the Eswatini authorities, who have failed to conduct an impartial, thorough, and swift investigation into the murder for two years now.

Thulani Maseko, a senior member of Lawyers for Human Rights Swaziland and chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum advocating for constitutional reforms, was ruthlessly gunned down in front of his family on the evening of January 21, 2023. This heinous act occurred shortly after King Mswati issued ominous warnings against those advocating for democratic reforms, further escalating tensions in the country. Maseko, a devoted advocate for justice and human rights, played a pivotal role not only in Eswatini but across the Southern Africa region. His untimely demise is a profound loss to the pursuit of freedom and justice. The circumstances surrounding his murder demand an impartial, thorough, and expeditious investigation, independent of Eswatini's political environment, to ensure justice and accountability for this and other similar incidents since 2021.

Despite the widespread international calls for an impartial, thorough, and expeditious investigation, the Eswatini Government has shown no commitment, and there is a glaring absence of evidence of a swift, independent, and transparent inquiry into Maseko's assassination and the continued political violence in the country. SADC, the African Union, the United Nations, and numerous other voices and institutions have called for such an investigation, but the monarchy and his government has chosen to ignore these pleas. Instead the Eswatini authorities have issued a public statement seemingly threatening Tanele Maseko, the widow of Thulani Maseko, in response to her ongoing quest for justice.

The glaring absence of accountability one year after the assassination of Thulani Maseko serves as a distressing reflection of the prevailing culture of impunity within Eswatini. The nation finds itself ensnared in a disconcerting cycle of political assassinations, perpetuating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. This is evidenced by the arbitrary arrest and detention of several pHuman rights defenders including Pro- Democracy Members of Parliament (MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. This alarming state of affairs is untenable and demands immediate intervention to break free from the shackles of impunity. Urgency is paramount in addressing the deep-rooted issues that fuel such violence, and the authorities must make concerted efforts to dismantle the culture of impunity that allows perpetrators to evade justice. It is crucial to prioritize the restoration of justice, ensuring that those responsible for acts of violence are brought to book and held accountable. 

In light of these developments, we urgently implore the Eswatini Government to:

1. Immediately allow for an internationally supported, thorough, independent, and expeditious investigation into the assassination of Thulani Maseko and others killed since 2021, ensuring justice and full accountability.
2. Respect, protect, and promote the rights of all individuals within Eswatini's jurisdiction to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and political participation, regardless of their views.
3. Implement all human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.  
4. Release all political prisoners and cease the excessive use of force against protestors, as well as refrain from arbitrary arrests, detentions, harassment, or intimidation of pro-democracy activists and dissenting voices.
5. Cease the violent rhetoric against pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders immediately.
6. Facilitate an inclusive and genuine political dialogue to pave the way for a democratic dispensation in Eswatini.

                                           TogetherWeDefend!!!!!!!

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