Amnesty International Raises Alarm Over Imprisoned Eswatini MP Denied Food in Custody

Amnesty International has expressed serious concerns about the well-being of Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, a former Member of Parliament in Eswatini, following reports that he has been denied food rations at Matsapha Correctional Complex. Mduduzi Mabuza, who requires a special diet due to a medical condition, has been left without a proper meal for the last four days following his recent sentencing.

The ordeal began on July 17, 2024, when authorities at the facility refused to provide Mabuza with breakfast, further banning him from receiving food from outside the prison, a provision he has depended on throughout his incarceration. His health is now in jeopardy due to the disregard of a medical report stating his dietary needs. Vongai Chikwanda, Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at Amnesty International, insists that this treatment is equivalent to torture or ill-treatment and could have severe repercussions on Mabuza’s health.

The troubles for Mabuza and his fellow parliamentarian Mthandeni Dube began following their arrest on July 25, 2021, amidst pro-democracy demonstrations. They were subsequently charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act of 1938, legislation viewed by many as draconian relics of a bygone era. The court system handed down hefty sentences of 25 and 18 years, respectively, on July 15, 2024, igniting widespread condemnation from human rights groups.

To make matters worse, there have been reports of repeated assaults against both MPs in prison. Incidents of mistreatment include beatings by members of a prison unit tasked with their transport and further abuse inflicted upon Mabuza post-conviction in 2023. To date, no investigations have been carried out into these attacks, raising questions about impunity within the prison system.

The pressing concern now lies in the immediate actions required to safeguard Mabuza's health. Amnesty International is calling for his swift release, along with Mthandeni Dube, characterizing their conviction as a gross miscarriage of justice. In addition, they demand the charges against the two be dropped, highlighting the absence of fair trial principles in their proceedings. With health conditions deteriorating and instances of abuse documented within the confines of Matsapha Correctional Complex, the call for intervention has never been more urgent.

Chikwanda further emphasized that Eswatini authorities must adhere to international conventions against torture and cruel treatment and called on the global community to closely monitor the situation of human rights in the kingdom, particularly in relation to the treatment of political detainees.