Lawmakers jailed for murder

A court in eSwatini has sentenced two pro-democracy lawmakers to lengthy terms in jail for ‘terrorism’ and murder related to 2021 protests in Africa's last absolute monarchy. News24 reports that the former MPs had pleaded innocent to all counts ahead of their conviction last year, almost two years after they were arrested on accusations of having incited unrest. A judge at the High Court in the capital Mbabane sentenced Mduduzi Mabuza to 25 years and Mthandeni Dube to 18 years in jail. ‘I have considered the fact that you were remorseful throughout the trial and that is the reason I will give you a lesser sentence,’ she said. They were arrested in July 2021 during pro-democracy protests that were violently quashed by security forces, leaving dozens dead. They had advocated for reforms to a complex system of non-party elections that effectively ensures King Mswati III faces no meaningful dissent.