On Saturday, November 14, 2025, mourners gathered at the Evangelical Church, in Mbabane to celebrate the life of Comfort Mabuza, who had answered God’s call. It was an occasion with mixed feelings; on one hand, it was to celebrate Mabuza’s immense contributions in the Church and in NGO sector, and on the other hand, his work in the media fraternity.
Mabuza was a theologian who embraced social justice, in spite of the fact that he was raised in the conservative Evangelical Church, whose central message is for one to repent and live for Christ, and is not a church that concerns itself with social justice issues, like what the Catholics are known for.
Mabuza was different. He embraced Liberation Theology, which emphasised liberation from social, economic and political oppression. Liberation theology calls for the Church to align itself with those on the fringes of society – the poor, the downtrodden, the sick, the rejected in society. It calls upon the Church to champion social change for God’s people to live in dignity.
He was touched by the scale of poverty, unprecedented levels of unemployment, gender-based violence that has reached endemic levels, lack of access to justice for the poor and the marginalised, those who were evicted from their ancestral lands, those facing food insecurity, the forgotten and excluded people with disabilities, many who lack access to education, decent jobs and many social ills. These conditions made him restless.
He saw the suffering of ordinary people such as journalists, who were constrained by laws that continue to constrain their freedom to inform, educate and entertain, within journalistic ethics confines. Hence, he was initially a volunteer executive director at MISA, where he restored donor confidence in the organisation.
Mabuza was one of the NGO leaders who were against the mismanagement of donor funds, as they are secured on behalf of the under-privileged. He was of the view that NGOs cannot criticise government on one hand, yet, on the other hand, they are also involved in corruption themselves. It is indeed shameful to use the money for the poor for self-enrichment. Sadly, the NGO sector is also not immune from corrupt practices.
He was passionate about the plight of women in a patriarchal society. Hence, he was part of the activists that promoted gender equality, as women are human and deserve to be treated as such. In fact, the Bible, which was his guide says in Galatians 3:28: ‘‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for we are all one in Christ.’’
He participated actively in advocacy campaigns for the country to adopt policies that will promote gender equality, this included the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Act, 2018 passed, after many years of campaigns. He was concerned about women and girls who die at the hands of males, especially those they once loved.
While our country has made strides in adopting policies and laws that aim to break barriers for women and girls, the struggle for their emancipation is far from over. It is sad that the media has reported young men raping the elderly, which points to a society that has lost values of Ubuntu and respect for our elderly.
Mabuza was a critic of the Church that has adopted a neutral stance on matters of social justice, in order to avoid conflict with government.
He was inspired by Jesus who announced His ministry with a powerful scripture when he opened the scroll in the temple (Luke 4:18). He read: ‘‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release of the prisoners, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free.’’ (International Standard version)
Some scholars argue that Jesus was a radical activist too. He challenged social, religious and political status quo, advocating for the poor, the marginalised and oppressed. They argue that his interactions with tax collectors, lepers and his condemnation of religious leaders, were a direct challenge to authority and injustice (allenbrowne.blog).
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said this about silence and indifference: ‘‘It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say ‘Wait on time’. There is no justification for keeping silent, while the people suffer.’’
May another activist take Mabuza’s spear, for our leaders need to hear voices of reason, to prick their conscience. Activists are also patriots!
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