Eswatini State: Alleges Makhanya, Dlamini Coordinated 2021/22 Unrest

• Eswatini police allege Mlungisi Makhanya and Zweli Martin Dlamini coordinated 2021/22 unrest activities via phone.
• Mlungisi Makhanya is the President of PUDEMO, which is a proscribed entity.
• Zweli Martin Dlamini serves as the Editor of Swaziland News.
• These allegations are contained in court papers supporting Eswatini’s provisional arrest application.
• The State's focus on phone coordination reveals its evidentiary strategy in political unrest cases.

For legal professionals in Eswatini, these specific allegations regarding phone coordination during political unrest are highly significant.

The Eswatini State has formally accused Mlungisi Makhanya and Zweli Martin Dlamini of orchestrating activities during the widespread political unrest that gripped the nation in 2021 and 2022. These serious allegations, which center on the use of telephonic communication for coordination, have been detailed in official court documents. The State's case posits that these individuals utilized mobile phones to direct various actions throughout the period of civil disturbance.

Mlungisi Makhanya holds the position of President within the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), an organization that has been officially designated as a proscribed entity by the Eswatini authorities. Concurrently, Zweli Martin Dlamini serves as the Editor for Swaziland News, a media outlet. The specific details regarding their alleged involvement in the Eswatini 2021/22 unrest coordination were presented within legal filings supporting a request for their provisional arrest.

The allegations against Makhanya and Dlamini are not merely speculative; they are formally presented within court papers that underpin Eswatini's application for a provisional arrest. This procedural step indicates a serious intent by the State to pursue legal action, laying out the foundational evidence it believes justifies detention and further proceedings. The inclusion of specific details, such as the method of coordination via telephone, highlights the evidentiary focus of the State in building its case.

The status of PUDEMO as a proscribed entity adds another layer of legal complexity to the charges against its president, Mlungisi Makhanya. This designation means that any activities associated with the organization, particularly those deemed to incite or coordinate Eswatini political unrest charges, are likely to be viewed with heightened scrutiny by the authorities. The State's decision to include these specific details in a provisional arrest application underscores its strategy to link prominent figures to the unrest through their communication channels.

For legal professionals in Eswatini, these specific allegations regarding phone coordination during political unrest are highly significant. The details, as presented in the court papers for a provisional arrest application Eswatini, offer crucial insights into the State's evidentiary requirements and its overall legal strategy in prosecuting cases related to political activism. Understanding this focus on communication is paramount for lawyers advising clients who may be involved in or affected by political movements.

The State's emphasis on telephonic coordination suggests that digital and communication records could form a central part of future prosecutions. This development necessitates that legal counsel thoroughly understand the potential legal exposures associated with various forms of communication, especially for individuals engaged in or perceived to be engaged in political organizing. The explicit mention of Makhanya Dlamini unrest coordination via phone serves as a clear indicator of the types of evidence the authorities are actively seeking and presenting in court.

The fact that the allegations target the president of a proscribed entity and a prominent media editor further underscores the broad scope of the State's approach to perceived instigators of unrest. Lawyers must therefore be prepared to advise on the implications of digital footprints and communication patterns, ensuring clients are aware of how their interactions might be interpreted and used in legal proceedings. This case provides a concrete example of the State's method for connecting individuals to broader unrest through specific acts of communication.

Lawyers in Eswatini should be aware of the State's specific allegations regarding phone coordination during political unrest, as these details, presented in court papers for a provisional arrest application, indicate the evidentiary focus and legal strategy in prosecuting such cases. This information is crucial for advising clients involved in or affected by political activism on potential legal exposures related to communication.

Source: Original reporting via Times of Eswatini.