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Mlungisi Makhanya is a Swazi politician and human rights defender. He is the president of the People's United Democratic Movement. He previously served as Secretary General of the party during the presidency of longtime leader Mario Masuku.

Arrest

On 24 April 2014 Makhanya was arrested and charged for giving support to a proscribed terrorist entity, the People's United Democratic Movement, chanting terrorist slogans, wearing white T-shirts written PUDEMO and reflecting terrorist demands at the back, and also wearing red and black PUDEMO berets. 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. 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. 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.

Arson Attack

On 20 September 2022 he survived an arson attack on his home with a hand grenade. The damage to the property is estimated at E1.5 million. 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. 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.

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. Mlungisi Makhanya was poisoned with organophosphates – chemicals used for pest control. 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 poisoning, and to bring to justice any persons determined to be responsible for any criminal conduct related to this incident. 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.

See also

• Human rights in Eswatini
• People's United Democratic Movement

References

1. PUDEMO elects new leadership, Peter Kenworthy, Pambazuka News, 13 September 2018
2. MAKHANYA RE-ELECTED PUDEMO PRESIDENT, Mhlonishwa Motsa, Times of Eswatini, 26 February 2023
3. Mlungisi Makhanya re-elected PUDEMO President, Ntombi Mhlongo, Eswatini Daily News, 26 February 2023
4. Give Chitsunge a befitting send-off, best revenge is voting out Zanu PF – Swaziland’s opposition leader tells Zimbabweans, NewZimbabwe.com, 8 August 2023
5. MARIO RETAINS PUDEMO PRESIDENCY, Sibusiso Zwane, Times of Eswatini, 27 February 2014
6. Swaziland: Africa's last absolute monarchy, Philipp Sandner, DW, 14 July 2014
7. Makhanya and Others v King (181 of 2014) , ESwatiniLII, 5 May 2014
8. Opposition leaders, activists arrested in Swaziland, Business Day, 24 April 2014
9. COSATU: Statement by the Congress of South African Trade Union, condemns arrest of PUDEMO Secretary General in Swaziland , COSATU, Polity, 25 April 2014
10. Swaziland opposition leaders, activists detained, AFP , 24 April 2014
11. Maseko and Others v Prime Minister of Swaziland and Others, ESwatiniLII, 16 September 2016
12. Mlungisi challenges anti-terror law in court, Peter Kenworthy, Pambazuka News, 18 September 2014
13. Historic Swazi court judgment striking down parts of sedition and terrorism laws is under threat, Peter Fabricius, Daily Maverick, 29 September 2022
14. Eswatini: Major setback as Supreme Court upholds repressive Suppression of Terrorism Act, Amnesty International, 14 August 2024
15. Eswatini: Supreme Court decision upholding repressive security laws is a blow to human rights, ICJ – International Commission of Jurists, 30 August 2024
16. Residence of Swazi pro-democracy leader bombed by alleged state-sponsored hit-squad. People's Dispatch, 21 September 2022
17. King Mswati’s security officers planted bombs inside PUDEMO President’s home in an assassination attempt., Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 20 September 2022
18. ESWATINI: AUTHORITIES ESCALATE CRACKDOWN ON DISSENT, Amnesty International, 28 September 2022
19. E1.5M DAMAGE AFTER PUDEMO PRESIDENT’S HOME TORCHED, Thokozani Mamba, Times of Eswatini, 21 September 2022
20. EFF STATEMENT ON REPORTED BOMBING OF THE HOUSE OF PUDEMO PRESIDENT MLUNGISI MAKHANYA, Economic Freedom Fighters, 12 September, 2022
21. NUMSA CONDEMNS THE ARSON ATTACK ON THE PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
22. SouthernDefenders Strongly Condemns Deadly Grenade Attack on the home of Mlungisi Makhanya, President of PUDEMO, Southern Defenders, 22 September 2022
23. ATTACKS OF CONVENIENCE, Mbongeni Mbingo, Eswatini Observer, 26 September 2022
24. 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 2024
25. Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in South Africa - party, Wycliffe Muia, BBC, 25 September 2024
26. Eswatini opposition leader in critical condition after alleged poisoning, Rachel Savage, The Guardian, 26 September 2024
27. eSwatini opposition leader in poisoning scare, Jeanette Chabalala and Zweli Dlamini, Sowetan, 25 September 2024
28. eSwatini opposition leader poisoned in alleged assassination attempt, Channel Africa, SABC News, 27 September 2024
29. eSwatini's opposition party reveals Makhaya was poisoned with chemicals used for pest control, Jeanette Chabalala, Sowetan, 25 September 2024
30. Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in alleged assassination attempt, Pamel Kaur, JURISTnews, 26 September 2024
31. 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
32. THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) CONDEMNS THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO, African National Congress, 4 October 2024
33. EFF Statememt On The Poisoning Of Pudemo President Comrade Mlungisi Makhanya, Economic Freedom Fighters, 25 September 2024
34. COSATU condemns the poisoning of PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya , Congress of South African Trade Unions, 4 October 2024

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