TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

70-YEAR-OLD PRESSURED INTO FORCED EVICTION

Eswatini UA 59.26

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.

Call on the Eswatini authorities to immediately cease any approach to Phumzile Dlamini aimed at securing her signature on relocation documents - send your message using our email writing tool.

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Eswatini Minister of Just

Prince

Simelane

Eswatini Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

Minister of Justice

Prince

Simelane

Eswatini Minister of Justice & Constitutional Affairs

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,

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