By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE : The All-Africa Students Union (AASU) has condemned  the police brutality  and human rights abuses against students and ordinary  citizens in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini.

This comes after the country witnessed spine chilling  incidents of police brutality with the latest being at Thabani Nkomonye’s memorial service  where they fired teargas and live ammunition at mourners.Thabani Nkomonye is the University of Eswatini law student who was allegedly killed by the police, his body was dumped at Nhlambeni while his car was found hidden at Sigodvweni Police Station with a bullet hole .

In a statement seen by this Swaziland News, Peter Kwasi Kodjie, the Secretary General of the AASU said it was very alarming and disturbing how the eSwatini police were bent on suppressing human rights and fundamental freedoms espoused by international Human Rights Laws and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. 

"AASU appeals to the King’s Government of Eswatini to call the police to order immediately and protect Students and safeguard human rights in the country. Through this medium, the Union invites international human rights organisations and other civil society organisations in eSwatini to intervene and denounce  these barbaric acts of the police", reads the statement in part.

An effort was made to seek a comment from Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Coalni Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) welcomed the statement and called for international organisations to intensify the pressure on King Mswati to hand over power to the people. 

"We appreciate the global recognition of the swazi struggle but we would like to appeal to the international community to take the struggle further by isolating King Mswati, he must be rejected across the world and not be allowed to do business with any country. King Mswati is a crime against humanity, he intentionally pushed the Nation into abject poverty and must be isolated until he surrenders power to the people", said the SNUS President.