Diplomatic tensions have surfaced between Eswatini and the United States following Washington’s comments on this week’s sentencing of two pro-democracy former lawmakers to lengthy jail terms for allegedly inciting anti-government protests three years ago.
An Eswatini High Court judge on Monday sentenced former Members of Parliament Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube to 25 and 18 years in jail, respectively, for “terrorism” and murder charges related to June 2021 protests in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
The former MPs denied the charges of inciting the unrest that was violently quashed by security forces, leaving dozens dead.
The lengthy jail terms drew criticism from the US whose embassy in Mbabane, which late Tuesday expressed concern over the sentencing, highlighting that the MPs’ arrests and detentions were arbitrary and based on “unfounded” charges.
“There has been widespread reporting that their detentions are arbitrary, based on groundless charges of murder and terrorism, and that they were targeted for bravely calling for political and human rights reforms in the country,” the embassy said in a statement.
It stressed that using courts to suppress dissent undermines trust in government institutions and hampers progress on the rule of law and freedom of expression.
Eswatini government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo on Wednesday defended the judicial process, stating that Mabuza and Dube received a fair trial and were convicted following thorough investigations by the Royal Eswatini Police Service into the civil unrest of June 2021.
“To this end, we plead with the United States Embassy to respect the due process of the law and, ultimately, the rule of law,” Nxumalo said in a statement.
He added: “Casting aspersions on the independence of our judiciary after delivery of judgement by a court of competent jurisdiction is an affront to rule of law.”
He criticised the US embassy’s allegations of unfair trials and groundless charges, asserting that only an appellate court could reverse the convictions.
The unrest, which led to the MPs’ arrests, was part of broader pro-democracy protests in Eswatini.
Mabuza and Dube were prominent figures in the movement, calling for political reforms and greater human rights protections.
