Country Profile
Hundreds of families were threatened with forced eviction. LGBTI people were subjected to discrimination and harassment. A man was charged with marital rape for the first time. Repressive legislation was used to silence peaceful dissent and journalists faced arbitrary detention, torture and other...
News
Africa
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Responding to reports that Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, a former Member of Parliament (MP) who has been arbitrarily detained for almost two years, was beaten by correctional services officers on Friday Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said:...
October 2, 2023
Campaigns
Africa
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
On 1 June, Members of Parliament, Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza – who have been held for almost two years in arbitrary detention – were found guilty of terrorism, sedition and murder. The two were arrested on 25 July 2021 and are facing over 20 years in jail for representing their...
June 29, 2023
News
Eswatini
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Ahead of the court appearance of Sticks Nkambule, Secretary General of Swaziland Transport Communication and Allied Workers Union, on trumped-up charges of contempt of court stemming from his involvement in organizing a stay away action in December 2022, Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International’s...
June 19, 2023
Campaigns
Eswatini
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Members of Eswatini Parliament Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube have been arbitrarily detained since 25 July 2021 on trumped-up charges, including those under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. While in detention, they have been beaten and denied access to their lawyer and medical care....
March 6, 2023
News
Eswatini
Human Rights Defenders and Activists
The Eswatini authorities must ensure the investigation into the unlawful killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko is completely independent, impartial, transparent and effective, Amnesty International said today, one month after he was shot by unknown gunmen. “A month after Thulani Maseko was...
February 21, 2023
Campaigns
Africa
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Thulani Maseko was a courageous human rights defender, lawyer and state critic who refused to turn a blind eye to the government’s oppression of the people of Eswatini. On 21 January, he was shot and killed by unknown gunmen at his home in Luyengo, Mbabane. The Eswatini authorities must promptly,...
February 6, 2023
News
Eswatini
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
The Eswatini authorities must ensure that the unlawful killing of Thulani Maseko is promptly investigated in an effective, thorough, impartial and transparent manner, completely independent of government, Amnesty International said today. The unlawful killing of human rights defender and lawyer...
January 23, 2023
Research
Eswatini
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Eswatini authorities have escalated their crackdown on human rights, continuing their assault on human rights, the rule of law and justice. The government often uses force to quash opposition and dissent to suppress dissent and legitimate concerns of the people.
September 28, 2022
News
Eswatini
Censorship and Freedom of Expression
Responding to the arbitrary detention and malicious charges of sedition and damage to property brought against Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students, and the brief arrest and subsequent release of activist Sibusiso Nkwanyane by police officers on 31 January,...
February 1, 2022