By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Dozens of emaSwati had to run to Ireland-Europe in fear of their lives after the recent killing of dozens of civilians by King Mswati’s regime.

The citizens were killed merely for demanding democracy and a report compiled by the Human Rights Commission suggests that, forty-six(46) civilians were killed by the security forces while two hundred and ninety one(291) were shot in only two(2) days.

But the pro-democracy movement compilied a list of over one hundred(100) emaSwati who were killed, over one thousand(1000) were reportedly injured and arrested.

After the political unrest, the police intensified the killing and abduction of political activists particularly, members of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) and the Swaziland Liberation Movement(SWALIMO), Paul Matimela, the SWALIMO Deputy Secretary General Secretary fled to Ireland after being abducted and tortured by the police, he was almost killed during the June 29 political unrest commemoration.

The report of the Human Rights Commission was also quoted by the State ‘controlled’ Times of eSwatini confirming the killing of civilians, however on Wednesday(18th June 2025), the very same publication published a report alleging that, emaSwati were lying that, civilians were being killed and persecuted in the Kingdom.

It is alleged that, the Times published the story to try and downplay the seriousness of the oppression in eSwatini, well-documented by other international human rights organizations.

Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati declined to comment about the matter.

On another note, Thulani Maseko, a human rights lawyer was killed in eSwatini for allegedly demanding a political dialogue and this was after King Mswati threatened those calling for democracy, Maseko was the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum.

But apart from political persecution, citizens are persecuted for communicating with this Swaziland News, an independent online publication registered in South Africa and declared a terrorist entity by the Government merely for reporting critically about the political persecution.

As a result, Nompilo Mamba, a teacher at John Wesley Secondary School who took pictures and videos of armed police abducting MDS High School students during the unrest, had to flee to Ireland for safety.

The Government including the King subsequently lost a case file with the neighboring South African High Court, the Kingdom wanted the court to declare that editor Zweli Martin Dlamini and this publication committed terrorism for reporting about the political situation in the country.

But apart from the political persecution, Ngwane Mamba(King Bokweni II), of the Mamba clan in the Lubombo region had to flee to Ireland for safety after armed police from the Operational Support Services Unit(OSSU) were pictured invading the Royal Kraal and, unleashed by Mswati’s agents to stop his official coronation, the Mamba clan is an Monarch and traditional authority existing with the eSwatini absolute.

Velaphi Mamba, a human rights defender had to transport his wife and children to Ireland for safety after intelligence information leaked suggesting that, the State police were plotting to abduct the children and the wife.

Recommendations of the Human Rights Commission were not implemented by the Government, the interim report recommended a full investigation into the killing of civilians.