Protest as Eswatini activist arrested for destroying king’s photo

According to authorities, Colani Maseko, the chairman of the national student union, is suspected of removing and destroying images of the king from a university campus.

“Colani Maseko has been charged with sedition and malicious property destruction,” said Nosipho Mnguni, a police spokeswoman.

Small protests erupted in Manzini, the commercial city, and Mbabane, the capital, shortly after his detention. According to an AFP reporter, riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The University of Eswatini closed all three of its campuses.

Maseko has vocally demanded the release of pro-democracy lawmakers Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, who were arrested in June amid a wave of anti-government protests.

Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is the last absolute monarchy in Africa.

‘HOPE FOR CHANGE’

King Mswati enjoys flaunting his wealth and showering his 15 wives with lavish gifts.

Yet he rules over one of the poorest countries in the world, where nearly two-thirds of its 1.2 million inhabitants live in poverty.

Successive protests over several months left 46 people dead last year.

Neighbouring countries are trying to mediate between the palace and the pro-democracy forces, but so far have yet to even find agreement on a venue for talks.