/ / ESWATINI: 70-YEAR-OLD PRESSURED INTO FORCED EVICTION

ESWATINI: 70-YEAR-OLD PRESSURED INTO FORCED EVICTION

UA: 59.26

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70-year-old Phumzile Dlamini is facing sustained pressure to leave her home to make way for timber company, Montigny Investment’s forestry plantation expansion program in the village of Mhlambanyatsi, Eswatini. On May 21, police officers visited Phumzile Dlamini’s home and urged her to sign Montigny “voluntary relocation” paperwork which she has refused to do and has done since the process began in March 2026. This raises serious concerns about intimidation and the risk of forced eviction in violation of international human rights law and standards, which prohibit forced evictions and require that any relocation affecting a person’s home be genuinely voluntary and based on free and informed consent, or otherwise meet strict safeguards and provide effective remedy.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: January 1, 2027

Here is how you can take action:

Send a letter to the Eswatini authorities
Send an email to Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane using our email writing tool
Send an email to the Eswatini Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Post on social media

Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal and sample letter, and U.S.P.S. mailing address (if available).

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Step 1

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION

Enter your email address and zip code to get the sample letter to send to government officials.

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide.

Remember to send your letter by January 1, 2027.

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Sample Letter

Dear Honorable Minister Simelane,

I am writing to express urgent concern for Phumzile Dlamini, a 70-year-old resident of the village of Mambazo in Mhlambanyatsi, who is facing sustained harassment linked to a relocation process associated with forestry plantation expansion.

In 2014, the timber company Montigny Investments acquired the forests surrounding Phumzile Dlamini’s village in Mhlambanyatsi and have initiated an eviction process to remove the residents – most of whom consider the land to be their ancestral homes – to make way for forestry plantation expansion. Amnesty International understands that residents have faced sustained pressure to sign documents presented as ‘voluntary relocation’ agreement. Phumzile Dlamini has faced sustained pressure and repeated attempts since at least April 2024 to secure her signature on ‘voluntary relocation’ paperwork. On May 21, police officers visited her at her home and urged her to sign Montigny Investment’s “voluntary relocation” paperwork, which she refused. Montigny Investment denies both the visit and the allegation that pressure had been put on Phumzile to sign the document.

I urge you to take immediate action to stop police interference and intimidation, ensuring police and other officials immediately cease any approach to Phumzile Dlamini aimed at securing her signature on relocation documents, and ensure she is protected from harassment, intimidation, or retaliation. I also urge you to guarantee safeguards against forced eviction, ensuring that no relocation/eviction affecting Phumzile Dlamini and her community proceeds unless it is carried out in strict compliance with international human rights safeguards against forced evictions.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Step 2

Send your message

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs

Hon. HRH Prince Simelane

P.O. Box 924, Mbabane, Eswatini

[email protected] [email protected]

and

CC: Eswatini Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

Eswatini Permanent Representative to the United Nations

408 East 50th Street New York,

NY 10022

[email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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