Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of former Eswatini parliamentarians Mthandeni Dube and Bacede Mabuza, highlighting significant concerns over their convictions under controversial legal statutes. The appeal follows the recent conditional royal pardon granted to Dube, allowing his supervised release, though with stringent restrictions on his rights and activities.
Dube and Mabuza’s legal troubles began on July 25, 2021, following their vocal support for constitutional and democratic reform in Eswatini. The two were subsequently convicted in July 2024 under the Suppression of Terrorism Act and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act. These legislations have faced criticism from rights groups for their broad applicability and potential to stifle dissent. Mabuza remains incarcerated, serving an 85-year sentence, while Dube’s 58-year term is effectively suspended under strict conditions. More on the initial announcement regarding their release can be found in a report by JURIST.
Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, emphasized that while Dube’s release is a partial relief, ongoing restrictions render justice incomplete. Amnesty underscores the necessity of releasing both individuals unconditionally to uphold Eswatini’s human rights commitments.
The legal framework underpinning these convictions continues to draw international scrutiny. Lloyd Kuveya from the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria notes that these laws epitomize the legal challenges faced by reform advocates in Eswatini, as noted in a recent analysis.
Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, is under increasing pressure from both civil society and regional alliances to engage in meaningful political reform. Amnesty’s latest call to action reflects broader urgencies in the international community for Eswatini to align more closely with prevailing human rights norms. The demand for these former MPs’ unconditional release is seen not just as a matter of local justice, but as an indicator of the country’s commitment to reform and respect for peaceful dissent.