ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER APOLOGY: SILOLO APOLOGISES TO KING AS SWALIMO EDGES CLOSER TO KA MHLUSHWA GATHERING
Another week, another public apology to the King. What started as a trickle of remorse has become a wave of repentance among Eswatini’s once-fiery critics of the monarchy. First, it was Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland founder Ncamiso Ngcamphalala, who transformed from harshest critic to royal praise-singer.
Then came incarcerated former MP Mthandeni Dube, who through royal emissaries begged for forgiveness from His Majesty. Soon after, ex-police officer Sabelo Meadow Simelane followed, pleading to be reinstated into the force.
Now, former Swalimo spokesperson Thandaza Silolo has joined the chorus apologising publicly for his past activism in a widely circulated podcast interview. In the interview, broadcast by Kingdom Eswatini—a platform known for defending the monarchy—Silolo confessed to what he called his “reckless and careless” political activism, pleading for forgiveness from both the King and the authorities.
EFFSWA Founder Ncamiso Ngcamphalala
He recounted his journey from youth activism and exile to imprisonment and eventual involvement in the 2021 uprising. Beyond Silolo’s mea culpa, a broader pattern has emerged: a wave of political repentance sweeping through the ranks of the pro-democracy movement.
It began with Dube’s plea from behind bars, reportedly promising to abandon his previous confrontational stance. Yet his fellow MP Bacede Mabuza has chosen the opposite path; refusing to apologise despite immense personal cost. His business empire is collapsing, and his family is reportedly divided between those who support the monarchy and those who remain loyal to his democratic struggle.
Then there is Sabelo Meadow Simelane, the controversial former police officer whose social media antics blur the line between satire and sincerity, who has since joined the queue of seeking royal pardon.
What began as a joke about asking the King’s forgiveness has evolved into a confused mix of repentance and rebellion. In interviews, Simelane insists he has “seen the light,” yet online he continues to rally supporters to attend Swalimo’s upcoming KaMhlushwa Pilgrimage or taking jibes at the government.
Behind the scenes, however, poverty, disillusionment, and family pressures appear to have pushed him toward seeking a return to the police service and perhaps, reconciliation with the state. Now, Thandaza Silolo, once one of Swalimo’s most eloquent voices, has taken the same road.
Thantaza Silolo
A veteran of the mass democratic movement, Silolo cut his political teeth in Swayoco and was once linked to a series of unsolved petrol bombings before fleeing into exile in South Africa. Upon returning, he confessed, served time in jail, then re-emerged during the 2021 unrest with a newly found political outfit before disbanding it and joining Swalimo.
His eloquence in deep siSwati and his ability to articulate the people’s frustrations made him a perfect fit for Swalimo under Mduduzi “Gawuzela” Simelane.
This was so until electoral defeat and internal party disillusionment saw him drift away. When contacted for comment, Silolo declined to speak, saying only that he “was not ready to explain anything to anyone.”
While defections and apologies dominate headlines, exiled MP Mduduzi “Gawuzela” Simelane remains defiant, preparing for Swalimo’s annual KaMhlushwa Pilgrimage next weekend.
The gathering is expected to draw a mix of gospel artists, activists, and political leaders from across the spectrum in what many describe as a spiritual and strategic convergence for the movement’s faithful. “We understand that some comrades are tired, and maybe they want peace more than justice,” said a Swalimo youth organiser who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation.
“But for us, forgiveness without freedom means nothing. We are not fighting the King as a person; we are fighting for a system that gives all Swazis dignity.” Another senior Swalimo member, Linda Dlamini, speaking from exile in South Africa, said: “It’s painful to see people we once trusted kneeling before the same system that oppressed them. But history will remember those who stood firm even when the cost was high.”
Political analysts say the wave of contrition reflects both the psychological toll of years of repression and the state’s deliberate strategy to co-opt and pacify dissent.
“The monarchy is winning the battle of narratives,” said Mbabane-based analyst Mandla Dlamini. “By framing forgiveness as a moral victory, the regime weakens the opposition’s unity and portrays itself as merciful rather than oppressive.” Meanwhile, several political parties are in turmoil.
The once-vocal Swazis First Democratic Front has gone silent after its deputy president reportedly joined South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) under Jacob Zuma, while founding leader Busi Mayisela has struggled to keep the movement alive.
Reports allege that Dr Dlamini has since quit “Swazi politics” and focuses more of his life under MKP. Mayisela confirmed that Dr Dlamini had taken a back seat from “active struggle” preferring instead to focus to South Africa’s politics. She dismissed claims that her party is dead.
”We are very much alive except that what we do is presently underground. But we are alive and we do a lot of programs but outside of the public eye,” Mayisela said in an interview this week. Dr Dlamini was called several times but did not answer his phone
The Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the other hand is also in crisis, with President Vusi Shongwe and Secretary-General Lioness Sibande allegedly suspending each other amid a bitter internal feud.
“What we’re seeing is fragmentation that benefits the state,” added Dlamini. “While some seek royal mercy, others fight each other and the monarchy quietly regains the moral high ground.” Meanwhile, Bacede Mabuza remains the embodiment of resistance.
Dr Siphetfo Dlamini posing with senior MKP official Nhlamulo Ndhela (in cap)
Associates say he refuses to write apology letters or engage in royal pardon negotiations. “He believes forgiveness should be sought from the people, not the throne,” said one family member. As Eswatini’s political landscape fractures between repentance and resilience, the democratic movement stands at a crossroads. For some, apology is survival; for others, it is surrender.
For Gawuzela him and seeking remorse are like the Red Sea and Eswatini—far apart.
“The revolution is at the stage of stringent character test. Deep-love revolutionaries are separated from poverty-revolutionaries,” Simelane said when asked about defections and seeking forgiveness within the MDM.
“The dynamics are at a high pick and suffering between the lines is real. We can all easily say we crossed our Damascus moment, but only reality qualifies our stance. The turning back of some trusted people and the lack of clear dedication from some of our leaders has fuelled my passion to put my neck on the line for our people. I have never been so inspired as now,” continued Simelane in an interview this week.
Busi Mayisela, the founding President of the Swazi First Democracy Front
Simelane added that this year’s KaMhlushwa event promises to be more organised, more structured and much bigger than last year. “Doubts were filled last year but certainty rules now. It is the beacon of hope and display of resilience and unity for our democracy seeking masses,” said Simelane.
Describing the MDM Simelane said much hostilities and antagonism had since fallen away as the reality of the real battle kicks-in. He said ambitious elements have since realised that the battle is for soldiers not opportunistic agents.
“The revolution is raising its true forces across different political organisations hence we are now witnessing a bottom-up unity process than the top-down weak unity before. Unity forged by ground forces in tranches will force leaders on high tables to tore-the-line in my view,” he added.
Or, as one young activist preparing for KaMhlushwa put it: “If we all ask for forgiveness now, who will fight for the next generation?”
The King’s spokesperson Percy Simelane said apologies and forgiveness were not mathematical.
“It would be difficult to know what they are adding up to. Culturally and perhaps naturally the success of an apology does not necessarily depend on the vocabulary used but on the manner of presentation because it is the presentation that conjures positivity in the response ,” Simelane said in an interview.
He added: “worse, listening to an apology is not guided by any law or policy. So it would be difficult for me to know how exactly the king will respond to each plea for clemency. I wish them all the best. No man under the age of 300 years can be certain of changing his mind.”