By Ollus Ndomu
Eswatini’s main opposition leader, Mlungisi Makhanya, is in critical condition after an apparent assassination attempt involving poisoning, his party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), has confirmed. Makhanya, 46, has been living in exile in South Africa for two years, fearing for his life after a government crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the kingdom.
In a statement, Pudemo said, “Our president has been stabilized but he is still in critical condition.” The news of Makhanya’s poisoning comes as tensions rise in Eswatini, where protests are planned next month demanding multi-party elections—a sensitive topic in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. King Mswati III, who has ruled the nation since 1986, has long faced criticism for suppressing opposition and maintaining an extravagant lifestyle while the majority of Eswatini’s population lives in poverty.
Government spokesman Alpheous Nxumalo denied any involvement in the poisoning, stating, “The government does not kill or poison suspects.” Despite the denial, suspicions persist among opposition supporters, as political violence and intimidation are common in Eswatini’s deeply polarized environment.
Makhanya’s poisoning is likely to further inflame tensions ahead of the planned protests, as pro-democracy activists continue to push for reforms in the authoritarian state. Calls for multi-party elections have grown louder in recent years, with activists accusing King Mswati of monopolizing power and stifling dissent.
Eswatini has been rocked by intermittent unrest, particularly in 2021, when security forces brutally suppressed demonstrations, leading to dozens of deaths. The poisoning of Makhanya, a prominent figure in the opposition, could escalate the country’s ongoing political crisis.
