ESwatini’s most wanted man sneaks into Botswana
There is no night so long, the Swazi nationnd will be freed one day - Makhanya
Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of eSwatini’s Peoples United Democratic Movement ( PUDEMO), has reached out to regional leaders, seeking aid and underscoring the severe deterioration of the situation in the Kingdom.
He says citizens are enduring unparalleled levels of violence, encompassing murder, torture, and enforced disappearances. Makhanya himself fell victim when his house was set ablaze, prompting his escape across the border to South Africa. Now considered one of the most wanted individuals in eSwatini, he recently made a daring visit into our country last weekend to pay his nal respects to one of South Africa’s liberation icons, Botswana’s political luminary and founding President of Botswana Congress Party ( BCP), Mike Kitso Dingake, who was laid to rest on Sunday. In an exclusive interview with Botswana Guardian, Makhanya shed light on the historical backdrop of the regime’s oppressive tactics, emphasising its consistent inclination towards violence against native Swazis. He recounted the dark episodes of the 1960s and 1970s when dissenters o en vanished without a trace. Under King Mswati’s rule, however, such atrocities have become institutionalised and wellfunded, he opined.
Makhanya pointed to the heavy involvement of South African mercenaries, who have been instrumental in targeting political opponents, including the orchestrated assassination plot against PUDEMO’s former secretarygeneral, ulani Maseko
“We find ourselves in a situation where the Monarch has essentially outsourced the country’s security responsibilities to foreign entities, disguised as security rms but composed of foreign missionaries.
“Despite Swaziland having its own Defense Force, Police, Correctional Services, and other security agencies entrusted with the country’s security, we observe a troubling trend where this responsibility has been privatised and delegated to foreigners.
“ese individuals, some of whom have been granted citizenship, are running rampant, engaging in harassment, torture, and even killing of our people. Among them is their leader, a notorious gure with a history of violence.”
Makhanya expressed the profound challenges he and others face, particularly that they are aware they are being targeted by a regime capable of extreme actions.
He says this is a regime that not only violates the sovereignty of other nations but also engages in abductions and smuggling of activists like abo Mnene and others back into Swaziland.
With a smile, Makhanya glanced upward and remarked, “But, I must say, we draw inspiration from di erent generations entirely. We are inspired by individuals like Comrade Mike Kitso Dingake, whom I have come here to lay to rest and pay my nal respects.
“ey belonged to a generation that comprehended and imparted the lesson that nothing can deter a person of conviction from the imperative of ghting for their nation’s liberation,” he said, adding that “they taught us that it is the ultimate honour any revolutionary can aspire to achieve.
Makhanya said despite the constant threats and familial concerns, nothing can divert them from that path.
“For we recognise that leaders such as the late Comrade Maseko sacri ced everything for this cause. We have pledged that, for as long as we draw breath, we will remain steadfast in our pursuit of freedom. at determination is what propels us forward.”
Asked about the response to his widely circulated statement following the murder of former Secretary General ulani Maseko, where he asserted that the killing had strengthened PUDEMO, Makhanya clari ed that the message was directed squarely at the King himself. He explained that the statement emphasised ulani’s role as a peaceful gure, a necessary bridge for dialogue and communication in eSwatini. He said by eliminating ulani, the regime e ectively destroyed any chance for a peaceful resolution, eradicating the potential for dialogue.
Makhanya expressed con dence that not only did the people comprehend the message, but they also resonated with it deeply. “It was a message intended for the people.”
Makhanya said the regime had signi cantly increased its budget for safety and security, investing substantial funds that the country could not a ord into procuring arms for the police and the army. is escalation, he argued, was aimed at intimidating and instilling fear among the populace.
Makhanya re ected: “We’ve learned from those who have trod this path before us that sometimes you need to take a step back to ultimately move forward. ere’s a Chinese proverb I appreciate: ‘ Sometimes it takes longer to sharpen your axe, and you may feel disheartened by the lack of progress in cutting down trees. However, by investing more time in sharpening your axe, you ultimately expedite the process of clearing the forest.’”
He cautioned that the current regime should not delude itself into believing that the absence of visible activities indicates the populace has capitulated.
Quite the contrary, meticulous planning and re ning the execution of their action plan are underway.
“All we’re indicating is to keep an eye on the horizon; sooner rather than later, our people will resume their quest for freedom. e burning desire for freedom is ingrained in every Swazi individual.” He said they gauge their success not by the number of trees felled but by the reaction and response of their adversaries.
“The mere fact that this regime has opted to disregard the Council of SADC and other regional leaders, despite their clear advice in 2021, underscores their isolation. Just observe the king’s upcoming birthday celebrations next week;
“I doubt he’ll see signi cant attendance from African political leaders. It’s evident that regional leaders rightly view him as an unwelcome gure who fails to grasp that oppression is never sustainable.”
Makhanya emphasised the importance of understanding the essence of the struggle in eSwatini and the objectives of PUDEMO in relation to this struggle. He clari ed that the struggle in eSwatini is not directed against the King per se but rather against oppression.
“is oppression nds its roots in the historical aspirations of the native Swazi people and their resistance against settler colonialism, a plight shared with many other territories in Southern Africa and the wider continent.” In a rhetorical inquiry, Makhanya pondered the role of the King and the institution of monarchy within the context of the struggle. He elucidated that historically, the grievances of the Swazi people stem from being dispossessed of their land, political rights, and dignity by colonialists. ey were deprived of the opportunity to harness the economic and political resources that the country inherently possesses.