Eswatini: Detained widow to assassinated rights lawyer Thulani Maseko released

28/03/24

King Mswati’s police officers have released detained Tanele Maseko, the widow to assassinated human rights lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko. 

Eswatini Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

The widow was grabbed,harassed and tormented by the police at the Oshoek Boarder in the early hours on Thursday and this, was shortly after receiving threats from the State through retiring Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo.

The ongoing harassment comes after the widow made statements alleging that, her husband was killed by a “horrible dictator”, Mswati is suspected to have unleashed his mercenaries to kill lawyer Thulani Maseko,the then Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF).

The release of the widow was confirmed to this Swaziland News by human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi on Thursday.

Lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi rushed to Oshoek shortly after receiving information suggesting that, Tanele Maseko “has been detained” by the police.

“It’s true she has just been released” said the human rights lawyer.

In a joint public statement sent to this publication on Thursday, the Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network and the Pan African Human Rights Defenders condemned the harassment of the widow to the assassinated human rights lawyer.

[…]

https://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6274

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/28/eswatini-authorities-target-activists-widow

https://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=6273

https://www.barrons.com/news/eswatini-arrests-wife-of-murdered-rights-activist-50487a76

https://www.yenisafak.com/fr/international/eswatini-arrestation-de-lepouse-dun-influent-militant-assassine-24018 (FRANCAIS)

Tanele Maseko and her family have been unlawfully detained by the Government of Swaziland. Tanele has been outspoken about the assassination of her late husband Thulane Maseko in January 2023. He was a formidable human rights activist and thorn to the corrupt Swazi regime. https://t.co/w8dZACM5rl

— Open Secrets (@OpenSecretsZA) March 28, 2024

“Instead of using the criminal justice system to target, intimidate and harass Tanele Maseko, Eswatini authorities should focus on promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigating Thulani Maseko’s murder.”https://t.co/TR0bNqSnbs https://t.co/5laqtnFfWh

— stanley kwenda (@stanleykwenda) March 28, 2024

I am very concerned by the arbitrary detention of WHRD Tanele Maseko & her family members in #Eswatini yesterday. She is currently being interviewed by police. This follows the murder of her husband HRD Thulani Maseko in 2023. The harassment of Tanele must stop @MfaicSd pic.twitter.com/6lsyNfCbki

— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) March 28, 2024

Hands off Tanele Maseko!#JusticeForThulaniMaseko pic.twitter.com/YyHNIznK0H

— EmaSwatiForChange (@emaswati4change) March 28, 2024

“Mrs @tanele_maseko & her children deserve #justice. #Accountability must not remain elusive.” #Eswatini #RuleOfLaw @CHR_HumanRights @SABCNews @MaryLawlorhrds @Newzroom405 @BBCAfrica @EUinEswatini @UKinEswatini @USEmbEswatini @DIRCO_ZA @UNEswatini https://t.co/DnSUhVf4j5

— SALC (@Follow_SALC) March 28, 2024

Eswatini: Authorities must stop harassment and intimidation of Tanele Maseko https://t.co/MEmFfI2xf7@MaryLawlorhrds @HRF @WLCongress @AfricanWHRD @AfricaDefenders @AmnestyKenya @WLCongress

— AmnestySouthernAfrica (@AmnestySARO) March 28, 2024

Joining in solidarity in support of @tanele_maseko and her freedoms. https://t.co/9W5PpMnV95

— Damon M. Wilson (@DamonMacWilson) March 28, 2024

International Outcry: Organizations Unite Against Ongoing Harassment of Tanele Maseko by Eswatini Authorities

In a joint statement issued today, the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network @AfricaDefenders and the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network @SAHRDNetwork… pic.twitter.com/QYKw2RF2sF

— Change Radio (@ChangeRadioZW) March 28, 2024

Tagged: Amnesty International, Eswatini, Human Rights Watch, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders