The gruesome assassination of Thulani Maseko, a highly decorated human
rights lawyer, on Saturday 21 January 2023 marked a dastardly low in the
attacks meted to human and democracy rights in Swaziland. Oilwatch
Africa and other civil society organisations in Africa and beyond
condemn the murder of this renowned activist in his own home and demand
that the state assumes its responsibility of arresting the perpetrators
and protecting citizens.
Thulani Maseko was well-known as a campaigner committed to the respect
of human rights and the use of dialogue as the key tool for the
resolution of political disputes and conflicts. The brutal murder of
Maseko raises serious concerns about the heightened threat to human and
environmental rights defenders and the overall rule of law in Swaziland.
The assassination of Maseko marks an ugly turn in the attempts to
cripple dissent and eliminate the defenders of the masses on our
continent. Human right defenders have been the target of executions,
torture, beatings, arbitrary arrest and detention, death threats, and
harassment as well as restrictions on their freedom of movement in
Swaziland and elsewhere in Africa.
During one of Maseko’s life challenges, he was arrested allegedly for
contempt of court charges for having questioned the way the then Chief
Justice was conducting the affairs of the Judiciary. He was sentenced to
two years without an option of a fine. Sadly, he had to endure that
imprisonment and completed the sentence before the Supreme Court
accepted that his arrest and sentence were unlawful in the first place
and an infringement on his right to freedom of expression.
As a family, African human and environmental rights campaigners share in
the grief of Maseko’s
We call on the international community, including the United Nations,
African Union, Southern African Development Community, and individual
governments, to demand that the government of Swaziland respect human
rights.
African governments must ensure they create an environment where human
rights of all citizens are respected, and activists are not targeted for
standing up to injustice. No more bloodshed!
Endorsements
Oilwatch Africa
Friends of the Earth Africa
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), South Africa
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nigeria
Connected Advocacy, Nigeria
Friends of Lake Turkana, Kenya
We the People, Nigeria
Bio Vision Africa (BiVA)
Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)
New Apostolic Centre for Development (NCD)
OilWatch Ghana
Centre de Recherche et d’Actions sur les Droits Économiques, Sociaux et
Culturels (CRADESC), Sénégal
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
Policy Alert, Nigeria
Justiça Ambiental, Mozambique
Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN)
Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF),
African Center for Environment and Rural Development (ACERD),
Host Community Network, Nigeria (HoCoN),
Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZeWA)
Earthlife Africa JHB
Right to Know Campaign
Oil Change International
World March of Women -Kenya
Centre pour la Justice Environnementale – Togo
Les Amis de la Terre – Togo
Africa Institute for Energy Governance, Uganda
Action 54, South Sudan
Leadership Initiative for Transformation & Empowerment (LITE-Africa),
Nigeria
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre – Nigeria
Women Initiative on Climate Change – Nigeria
Annie Rural Health and Women Foundation – Nigeria
League of Queens International Empowerment, Nigeria,
LVC Southern and Eastern Africa
34.Kalkal Human Rights Development Organization (KAHRDO) ,Somalia
35. Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA.
36. Uplift (UK)
37. War on Want (UK/Global)
38. Sanlakas – Philippines
39. AbibiNsroma Foundation Ghana
40. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (US/Global)
41. Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights (Hawai’i)
42. Oceania Human Rights (Hawai’i)
43. Aotearoa New Zealand Human Rights Foundation (New Zealand)
44. South African Faith Communities Environmental Institute
(SAFCEI)
45. Urgewald (Germany)
46. Friends of the Earth International
47. Center for International Environmental Law
48. Transport&Environment
49. Global Justice Now (UK)
50. Africa Climate Movement Building Space
51. Appui aux Initiatives Communautaire de conservation de
l’environnement et de Développement Durable
52. Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc.
53. Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda
54. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
Individuals:
Kwami Kpondzo
S’bu. Zikode
Anja Kollmuss
Ruth Kruger
Lorraine Chiponda
Lisa Amélie Tostado
—
We all have a role in saving the environment.
See something, Say Something.
Kome Odhomor
Media/Communication Officer
