Bacede Mabuza y Mthandeni Dube, Eswatini
We are Members of Parliament in Africa's last absolute monarchy, Eswatini. We were arrested on the evening of 25 July 2021 during the wave of protests demanding political reforms.
We were arrested amidst the fervent wave of protests that echoed across our nation, a call for long-awaited political reforms. The trigger for these pro-democracy and anti-police demonstrations was the tragic and unexplained passing of Thabani Nkomonye, a 25-year-old law student, allegedly at the hands of the very authorities meant to protect our people. In response, the public outcry reverberated, and over 1,000 individuals, including ourselves, were apprehended. The government responded with an iron fist, aiming to quell the calls for change.
The yearning for change continued to crescendo, leading to what has been dubbed the 'winter revolution'. Journalists were targeted, and streets became battlegrounds as citizens demanding government and monarchical reforms faced off against the forces of order. Amid this turmoil, we found ourselves imprisoned for nearly two years, held arbitrarily and unjustly.
On 1 June 2023, we were confronted with a deeply flawed trial and verdict. Accused of "terrorism, sedition, and murder," charges we vehemently deny, we now face the prospect of spending over two decades behind bars. Our crime? Representing our constituencies and daring to advocate for fundamental political and human rights reforms within our country. Our call for the overhaul of an intricate electoral system that stifles opposition has placed us in this precarious situation.
Throughout our time in detention, we have endured deplorable conditions, physical abuse, and deprivation of essential rights. Our access to legal representation and medical care was denied, stripping us of our basic humanity.
We find ourselves incarcerated under conditions that defy human dignity, facing a future laden with uncertainty. In our plea for justice, we beseech you to stand as witnesses to our ordeal. We urge you to rally for our release, to amplify our call for justice, and to bring attention to the plight of our fellow citizens.
The CIVICUS monitor rates Eswatini as repressed
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