Mario Thembeka Masuku (October 1951[1] – 11 January 2021) was a Swazi politician who was the leader of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Eswatini's banned opposition party.[2]

Early life and education

He was born in the village of Makhosini located in Nhlangano Eswatini and attended Evelyn Baring High School.[3]

Imprisonment for political activity

The Royal Swazi Police arrested and imprisoned Masuku at Matsapha maximum security prison on charges of sedition in 2001.[3]

He was arrested again on November 15, 2008, under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. At the funeral of Musa Dlamini, who died while supposedly trying to bomb the Lozitha bridge, Masuku is alleged to have verbally supported recent bombings of government institutions. He was acquitted and discharged at the High Court on September 21, 2009 after spending 340 days in prison.[4][5][6]

On 1 May 2014, Masuku, after a making a speech at a May day rally in Manzini, was arrested together with student activist Maxwell Dlamini.[7] They were charged with terrorism and sedition. A widely supported[8][9][10][11] international campaign for their release was started shortly thereafter.[12]

He died on 11 January 2021, from COVID-19.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "Highlanders shattered by Mario's demise". 13 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Caesar Zvayi (2007). "Zimbabwe: Welcome Home Son of McGee". The Herald via allAfrica. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
  3. 1 2 "Standing up to Swaziland's king". BBC News. 2002-02-04. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
  4. ↑ Hager, Sarah (September 23, 2009). "Mario Masuku Acquitted in Swaziland". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  5. ↑ Nxumalo, Manqoba (September 22, 2009). "Mario Masuku a free man". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  6. ↑ Clottey, Peter (24 November 2008). "Swaziland's Opposition Leader Expected in Court Over Terrorism Charges". VOAnews.com. Voice of America. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  7. ↑ "Petition To Free PUDEMO Leader". en.africatime.com. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "Swaziland: President of Danish Parliament Support Jailed PUDEMO President Mario Masuku's release". www.cosatu.org.za. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Swaziland long-serving President of PUDEMO party, Comrade Mario "Bhambatha" Masuku has died
  10. ↑ "Danish political support for Mario Masuku". 22 January 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "Danish party supports Mario and Maxwell". 17 June 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "Free Mario Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini - Afrika Kontakt". afrika.dk. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  13. ↑ COSATU mourns PUDEMO founding President Mario Masuku's death.
  14. ↑ "Pudemo, ANC, EFF pay tribute to Mario Masuku". 14 January 2021.

He stepped down as president of PUDEMO, and handed over the role to a young leader, Mlungisi Makhanya.

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