Mlungisi Makhanya (born 24 August 1978) is a Swazi politician and human rights defender. He is the president of the People's United Democratic Movement.PUDEMO elects new leadership, Peter Kenworthy, Pambazuka News, 13 September 2018MAKHANYA RE-ELECTED PUDEMO PRESIDENT , Mhlonishwa Motsa, Times of Eswatini, 26 February 2023Mlungisi Makhanya re-elected PUDEMO President, Ntombi Mhlongo, Eswatini Daily News, 26 February 2023Give Chitsunge a befitting send-off, best revenge is voting out Zanu PF – Swaziland’s opposition leader tells Zimbabweans , NewZimbabwe.com, 8 August 2023 He previously served as Secretary General of the party during the presidency of longtime leader Mario Masuku.MARIO RETAINS PUDEMO PRESIDENCY , Sibusiso Zwane, Times of Eswatini, 27 February 2014Swaziland: Africa's last absolute monarchy , Philipp Sandner, DW, 14 July 2014
Arrest
On 24 April 2014 Makhanya was arrested and charged for giving support to a proscribed terrorist entity, the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), chanting 'terrorist slogans', wearing white T-shirts with PUDEMO written on it, wearing red and black PUDEMO berets, and reflecting 'terrorist demands' at the back.Makhanya and Others v King (181 of 2014) SZHC 100 , ESwatiniLII, 5 May 2014 This was after a protest outside the Mbabane High Court during the 2014 trial of human rights lawyer and former secretary general of PUDEMO Thulani Maseko.Opposition leaders, activists arrested in Swaziland, Business Day, 24 April 2014COSATU: Statement by the Congress of South African Trade Union, condemns arrest of PUDEMO Secretary General in Swaziland , COSATU, Polity, 25 April 2014Swaziland opposition leaders, activists detained , AFP , 24 April 2014 On 29 August 2014 Mlungisi together with Thulani Maseko, Mario Masuku, Maxwell Dlamini and others successfully challenged the constitutionality of the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938 and the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008, which were used to arrest and charge him.Maseko and Others v Prime Minister of Swaziland and Others , ESwatiniLII, 16 September 2016Mlungisi challenges anti-terror law in court, Peter Kenworthy, Pambazuka News, 18 September 2014Historic Swazi court judgment striking down parts of sedition and terrorism laws is under threat , Peter Fabricius, Daily Maverick, 29 September 2022 The state however appealed the decision of the High Court and the Supreme Court upheld the Sedition and Subversive Activities and Suppression of Terrorism acts.Eswatini: Major setback as Supreme Court upholds repressive Suppression of Terrorism Act , Amnesty International, 14 August 2024Eswatini: Supreme Court decision upholding repressive security laws is a blow to human rights , ICJ – International Commission of Jurists, 30 August 2024
Arson attack
On 20 September 2022 he survived an arson attack on his home with a hand grenade.Residence of Swazi pro-democracy leader bombed by alleged state-sponsored hit-squad . People's Dispatch, 21 September 2022King Mswati’s security officers planted bombs inside PUDEMO President’s home in an assassination attempt. , Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 20 September 2022ESWATINI: AUTHORITIES ESCALATE CRACKDOWN ON DISSENT , Amnesty International, 28 September 2022 The damage to the property is estimated at E1.5 million.E1.5M DAMAGE AFTER PUDEMO PRESIDENT’S HOME TORCHED , Thokozani Mamba, Times of Eswatini, 21 September 2022 The attack was condemned by South African political parties and trade unions including the Economic Freedom Fighters, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Amnesty International and SouthernDefenders.EFF STATEMENT ON REPORTED BOMBING OF THE HOUSE OF PUDEMO PRESIDENT MLUNGISI MAKHANYA, Economic Freedom Fighters, 12 September 2022NUMSA CONDEMNS THE ARSON ATTACK ON THE PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO , National Union of Metalworkers of South AfricaSouthernDefenders Strongly Condemns Deadly Grenade Attack on the home of Mlungisi Makhanya, President of PUDEMO , Southern Defenders, 22 September 2022 The Tibiyo Taka Ngwane owned newspaper, the Eswatini Observer labelled the arson attack an attack of convenience and characterized the accusation of the state for the attack as nonsensical.ATTACKS OF CONVENIENCE, Mbongeni Mbingo, Eswatini Observer, 26 September 2022
Poisoning On 24 September 2024 it was reported that Makhanya, who had been exiled in South Africa since the 2022 arson attack which destroyed his Eswatini home, had been poisoned while inside his house in Pretoria.Eswatini main opposition leader PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya allegedly poisoned and rushed to hospital in a critical condition, was hunted by King Mswati’s undemocratic regime, Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 24 September 2024Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in South Africa - party , Wycliffe Muia, BBC, 25 September 2024eSwatini opposition leader in poisoning scare , Jeanette Chabalala and Zweli Dlamini, Sowetan, 25 September 2024eSwatini opposition leader poisoned in alleged assassination attempt, Channel Africa, SABC News, 27 September 2024 Mlungisi Makhanya was poisoned with organophosphates – chemicals used for pest control.eSwatini's opposition party reveals Makhaya was poisoned with chemicals used for pest control, Jeanette Chabalala, Sowetan, 25 September 2024Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in alleged assassination attempt , Pamel Kaur, JURISTnews, 26 September 2024 The attempted assassination was condemned by the International Commission of Jurists who called on the South African Police Service to conduct a "prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the circumstances of Makhanya’s incapacitation, and to bring to justice any persons determined to be responsible".South Africa: Authorities must conduct an effective investigation into the alleged poisoning of Eswatini opposition leader Mlungisi Makhanya, ICJ – International Commission of Jurists, 3 October 2024 The poisoning attracted widespread condemnation in South Africa including from the ruling African National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) CONDEMNS THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO , African National Congress, 4 October 2024EFF Statememt On The Poisoning Of Pudemo President Comrade Mlungisi Makhanya, Economic Freedom Fighters, 25 September 2024COSATU condemns the poisoning of PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya , Congress of South African Trade Unions, 4 October 2024
See also Human rights in Eswatini People's United Democratic Movement
References