TRUTH CANNOT BE HIDDEN FOREVER

This morning the bowels of a cursed earth will open up to swallow one of the greatest - if not the greatest - sons and champions of peace, and democracy in our country of birth, as well as a globally recognised icon, acclaimed attorney, and Human Rights advocate, Thulani Rudolph Maseko, popularly known as TR.

The vexed, or knotty question each one of us, who either had the privilege of knowing him personally or rubbed shoulders with him , including those who read or heard about his sterling work as an attorney, advocate and proponent of peaceful resolution to conflict in the country, cannot help, but ask this burning question: Why? Why was he assassinated? Why did such a likeable, congenial, brilliant man who possessed such an engaging, alluring, peaceful, inner and outward demeanor, respectively - a mentor; a doting father to his children, as well as loving husband to his wife - had to have his life ended in such a brutal, vicious, sadistic, cruel, and shockingly atrocious manner? But, why? I write this tribute to a fallen hero with tears falling down my wrinkled face and with trembling hands; a heart torn apart by an excruciating, inner pain, painstakingly careful to be as objective as possible, without adulterating the truth, wary of the glaring fact that out there in the shadows lurk murderous predators who do not take kindly to any of us speaking or writing truth to power.

The political situation in the country has now turned into a different and deadly ballgame altogether, where vicious predators have now resorted to the malevolent use of the deadly power of the bullet to settle whatever differences they might have with those who advocate for peace and dialogue as a means of solving our divergent views. But why? As news of the brutal assassination of TR spread like a veld fire across the country on an early Sunday morning last week, especially on social media platforms, many of us received the news with shocking disbelief. Thulani is dead? No ways! As humans, we are fearfully cognisant of the glaring fact that we are sojourners in this sinful and corrupt world. We are constantly and acutely aware that one day the death knell will sound, signalling that our journey in this world had come to an end.

We all yearn not to die, and long to live for eternity, but we are pretty much aware that this is impossible. All we hope for is that at least, when we eventually die, we die so peacefully. For Thulani to have his life terminated like that of a dog, is the greatest tragedy of all and a travesty of justice of the highest order. He did not deserve this. He deserved to die in a peaceful and dignified manner. Maseko fought peacefully and passionately for human rights. To him, personal glory was not important, but realising a peaceful coexistence with all his fellow countrymen was paramount. What was more important to him was to advocate and peacefully fight for a peaceful resolution to the pervasive environment of hatred, intolerance, revenge and egocentric attitudes that has the country in a deadly vice grip. We are hurt. We are grieving. Some of us are angry, livid, wondering why the country has become such killing fields.  Why can’t we - like how, and what the late TR advocated for - opt to peacefully engage each other, agree to disagree, reach a harmonious compromise, and restore this country to its former, tranquil atmosphere?

Is assassinating our perceived enemies the solution? We lost many protesters in an atrocious manner in June 2021. Police officers were shot and killed in brutal fashion last year. We are living in fear as I write. We are throttling each other to death. A nation comprising of one ethnic group, one language, interrelated, has been divided by political differences. But why? Who was the late Thulani Rudolph Maseko? What made him such a respected, loved, cherished, and internationally acclaimed human being?

Bachelor

Maseko was born at KaLuhleko, near Bhunya in Eswatini’s Manzini Region on March 1, 1970. He attended the University of Swaziland, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Law in 1994 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1997. In 2011, he earned a Master in International Legal Studies from the American University’s Washington College of Law. The late TR was a democracy advocate and a human rights lawyer noted for his efforts to protect disadvantaged, minority groups. He was fiercely defensive of people who had been evicted from their homes. On March 18,  2014, Thulani was jailed together with Bheki Makhubu, a renowned senior journalist, for contempt of court after criticising Eswatini’s judicial system. They were sentenced to two years.

In August 2014, Maseko wrote to then United States President, Barack Obama, from prison, seeking his intervention ahead of the 2014 United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit. Maseko was released from prison on July 30, 2015. He had been declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. What a learned, very passionate in defending human rights person he was! Is this what he was assassinated for? Who nefariously decided he was no longer fit to breathe the same air as him or her? Who decided to play God and assume the role of the Only Judge who has the right to decide who is fit to live...or die? Even God does not use His infinite and divine powers recklessly. Who, then, are we to decide to end the lives of our fellowmen? We may never know who killed Maseko. Inasmuch as speculations are running wildly, and are rife, as to who might have ordered his death, it is important that we allow our tempers to cool down, and give a chance to the country’s law enforcement agencies to investigate, and hopefully unearth, any evidence that would inevitably lead to an arrest. It is dangerous to speculate.

inviolable

I have in the past, pointed out that we were all made in the ‘image and likeness’ of the Living God - just as the Holy Book points out. We are His sacred Creation. To Him, life is sacrosanct, inviolable, and sacred. None of us, no matter how justified we could be, has the right to terminate or order the death of someone. No! Let us not deceive ourselves - we are all GOING TO DIE. Death comes disguised in a coat of many colours. Like our shadows, none of us can run away from death. It will surely come...whether we are Christians, political leaders, thugs, batsakatsi, boguluva, mercenaries, killers for hire...death stalks each one of us every minute of the day. Should we then be afraid of those who insidiously and deviously plan to kill us, and eventually succeed? Back to my question: Should we fear death? Here is the answer to that crucial question, and it is found in the Bible as was answered to by the Greatest Prophet who ever lived in this world, and who now sits at the Right Hand of the Living God, as I write.

Matthew 10:28 (NIV): “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell...” Got that? What does God say about killing each other? This is what He says: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” - Genesis 9:6. Not to be left out, the last book of the Holy Book has these chilling words to say: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:8 We desperately need God’s intervention in this country.

It is important that we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sins, and fast in order for Him to intervene in our political and socio-economic problems. Use of violence, and resorting to the latest, deadly trend of eliminating defenders of truth like the late Thulani, will not bring peace in this country. Such tactics will not help bring a lasting solution to our problems. I am not pointing any fingers at anyone as being responsible for Thulani’s demise. I am a patriot, a Christian who believes in peaceful resolution to any conflict. It is very crucial that we do not set a bad example, and precedent to the future generations that violence is the solution.I do not care whether violence is perpetrated by pro-system of government or pro-democrats proponents, respectively. All I am concerned about, and calling for is that let us solve our problems amicably. I make a fervent plea for PEACE.

Let us give peace a chance. Peace is very expensive, priceless. We need to ferociously value it, and protect it. Thulani’s brutal death has deprived of his family a father, and husband. No man wishes (or should wish) any man to die as violently in front of his family as TR did. That was callous, heartless, inhumane, insensitive, and malicious. I feel pity for Thulani’s wife as the excruciating questions from her children come thick, and fast, “Mommy, why did they kill Dad? When shall we see him again?” Oh, death! What an incorrigible thief you are! Can’t you be satiated of swallowing so many of earth’s inhabitants in your gaping mouth? Maseko advocated for dialogue, not violence. He left a legacy worth emulating. Last time I met him during a book launch, he made this passionate plea to me: ‘Nxumalo, please continue writing truth to power, respectfully, but firmly. We need writers of your calibre...’I felt so humbled that such an icon reads my articles and that he was deeply concerned about writing truth to power. What a sad loss! Even the accolades, and condolences coming from the international community are a testimony to, and an indication of the upright character of the late icon born in rural Ka-Luhleko. What a decorated character he was!

In an interview he had with the South African newspaper, the Daily Maverick, he said these profound words: ‘We know there is a price to pay for standing up for human rights...But know you are caught in between deciding whether to give up or keep going.  ‘You find that you have an obligation to keep going, difficult as the situation may be, with the hope that one day there will be a breakthrough in terms of creating a society where the rule of law is a basis of government in the country.  History has taught us no situation is permanent...’ Any word for those who assassinated him? I am no judge, neither do I have the privilege or right to judge others. But, let me quote a verse from the Living Word of God: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad...” - 2 Corinthians 5:10. Again, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 warns us: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Bible

Throughout the Bible, it is emphasised that people must, and will answer to the judgment of God. Moral and good acts are encouraged and evil deeds are condemned. The Day of Judgment is the determination of whether you lived a life of righteousness or wickedness. To the family and friends of the late TR, please trust in the living God. He sees and feels your pain. He identifies with your questions of “why did the killers deprive us of our father, breadwinner and husband?” He is an avenging God. He will give the people who arrogantly played God over the life of Thulani sleepless nights. To our leaders, citizens of the country and the international community, I encourage you: Let us rally together as God’s creation. Let us help our country stop the senseless killings. May we sit together around the negotiation table and put a lasting stop to the conflict which will end with no winners, nor losers. Lala ngoxolo, Comrade Thulani, Ngcamane! You have run the race and you surely await the resurrection of the saints. Sleep well in stillness of the grave. The Last Trumpet will surely wake you up!
Peace! Shalom!

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