Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

MASEKO WAS NOT A VIOLENT PERSON – ALPHEOUS

By BONGIWE DLAMINI | 2023-01-23

Following speculations on who was responsible for the assassination of prominent Human Rights lawyer, Thulani Maseko, government has stated that it had nothing to do with his death.

Government, through its Spokesperson, Alpheous Nxumalo, said despite the fact that Maseko was openly for the idea of multiparty democracy, he was not a person of special interest to the State. Speaking during a press conference held at The George Hotel in Manzini yesterday, Nxumalo said Maseko was not a violent person as he understood that in politics there could be conflict of ideas.

For this, Nxumalo stated that the human rights lawyer was never perceived by government as problematic.
Also, he said since his early days as a human rights lawyer, Maseko had been instrumental in fighting for the rights of citizens.

Nxumalo recalled that the lawyer worked tirelessly in ensuring that Emaswati’s rights were observed, including back when he fought for citizens to be allocated proper land after they were evicted from white-owned farms.

Therefore, Nxumalo averred that with all the good work done by Maseko in the country, government had no hand whatsoever in his death.

Instead, he stated that the lawyer was killed by tigebengu (thugs) while in the comfort of his home.
“We have gathered from the police that Maseko was shot in the presence of his wife and other men who were reported to have had an argument, although we have not yet established what it was about,” stated Nxumalo.

Having said this, the government’s mouthpiece implored the nation to desist from blaming government for the killings of citizens as the thugs responsible for the heinous crimes were similar to those who had been arrested in the recent past.

Culprits
“Some of these culprits have been arrested and will answer for their crimes. None of them have links to neither the government nor the Head of State,” averred Nxumalo.

He further emphasised that His Majesty King Mswati III, like any other leader should, had on several occasions denounced the killings of citizens and as such does not deserve for his name to be tarnished by being associated with the killings.

Nxumalo also likened Maseko’s attack to that of the soldier, Lance Corporal Zakhele Magwaza, who was shot and killed by three unknown gunmen who invaded an army base last Sunday morning.

However, he said no one speculated on who was responsible for Magwaza’s murder, as it had been done after the demise of the lawyer and other citizens who had been killed.
“Emaswati should stop with speculations and allow the law to take its course. The truth will eventually come out and the culprits will be apprehended,” he said.

share story