POLITICAL ACTIVIST AMOS MBEDZI DIES IN SA

MBABANE – Two months after being handed over to prison authorities in his home country, South Africa, Umkhonto Wesizwe former member and SACP member, Amos Mbulaheni Mbedzi, has passed away.

SACP is an acronym for South African Communist Party. Mbedzi died yesterday at around 6:30am at Polokwane Provincial Hospital, where he was receiving treatment. His son, Doctor, confirmed his death. The late Mbedzi was arrested in the country in September 2008 and served part of his 85-year sentence before being handed over to prison authorities of his home country in March this year. The name of Mbedzi has been a common feature in political rallies and other events, with those in attendance calling for his immediate release. Mbedzi, who has been sick for some time, left the country for South Africa after undergoing medical tests at the Mbabane Government Hospital. Armed Correctional Services officers were deployed at the hospital to ensure his safety while he was undergoing medical check-ups. He leaves behind his wife Tshikhudo and two children Doctor and Pfano.

Condolences

Following his death, condolences from local political formations have been pouring in. The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) issued a statement of condolence to the family of Mbedzi. CPS International Secretary Pius Vilakati said Mbezi’s family endured years of suffering following unjustified refusal to release him from jail even after he suffered from illness.
Vilakati noted that Mbezi gave his life serving the people of Eswatini, adding that he was arrested in September 2008 charged under the Eswatini Terrorism Act. “When the regime failed to prove terrorism, it ridiculously changed the charge to murder of his two comrades, Musa ‘MJ’ Dlamini and Jack Govender, who tragically lost their lives in September 2008 in a bomb blast.”

Vilakati said Mbezi survived the blast but was heavily injured. He said he was also charged with sedition, violation of Eswatini’s immigration law and unlawful possession of explosives. Mbedzi fell sick while serving his sentence. In memory of Mbedzi, the CPS further called for the unity of the people of Eswatini to wage a relentless fight, under the ‘Democracy Now’ campaign. The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Secretary General, Wandile Dludlu, described Mbedzi’s passing as a colossal loss for them as emaSwati who wanted change and those struggling for a better Africa.

Dludlu said they were informed of Mbedzi’s passing by the family and were yet to prepare an official statement. He said as an organisation, they were sending their condolences to the family and the SACP as well as ANC and other African organisations that he worked with. These, he said, included Umkhonto Wesizwe Military veterans where he was a member. He said as PUDEMO, they would be writing a comprehensive and befitting statement in due course.

Revolutionary

Meanwhile, Eswatini United Diaspora (EUD) Co-founder Bonginkosi ‘IB’ Dlamini also penned down his condolence message. Dlamini described Mbedzi as a true internationalist and revolutionary. He recalled in 2001, where he together with the deceased, travelled to Harare to meet the leaders of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement. He stated that they had gone to discuss serious bilateral matters as they were engaged in similar liberation struggles.

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