PUDEMO CONFIRMS: DANGEROUS ORGANOPHOSPHATE POISON USED IN MLUNGISI' ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has confirmed that its President, Mlungisi Makhanya, was the target of an assassination attempt involving the ingestion of dangerous organophosphate poison. Makhanya, a vocal advocate for democratic reforms and a staunch opponent of the monarchy, was poisoned in the early hours of Sunday morning with a substance commonly found in pesticides and nerve agents.

At a press conference today, PUDEMO Deputy President Wandile Dludlu pointed fingers at the Eswatini government, revealing that an unnamed man had been used as a sleeper agent in the attempt to kill Makhanya.

Makhanya is currently hospitalized and has been described as "critical but stable" by his comrades and friends after news of the attack spread on social media earlier this week. PUDEMO disclosed that the unnamed man responsible for poisoning Makhanya had also locked him inside a room to die, before walking away with his phones and keys.

Makhanya managed to scream for help and was rescued by the prompt arrival of neighbors and friends. Dludlu described it as a miracle that Makhanya survived for two hours after the assassination attempt.

The Organophosphate Poison and Its Effects on the Human Body

Organophosphate (OP) compounds, while commonly used in agriculture as pesticides, are highly toxic to humans. When ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, they inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is essential for regulating nerve function. The suppression of this enzyme leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, at nerve endings, causing overstimulation of the nervous system.

The effects of organophosphate poisoning are swift and potentially fatal if not treated immediately. Symptoms include:

●Difficulty breathing, as overstimulation leads to paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

●Severe headaches, muscle weakness, seizures, confusion, and in severe cases, coma. - Irregular heartbeats, which can lead to fatal cardiac arrest. ●Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Without prompt medical intervention, including the administration of atropine and oximes (antidotes that counteract OP poisoning), exposure can lead to death within hours. In Makhanya’s case, medical professionals acted in time, stabilizing his condition, though the poisoning has left him weakened. Questions remain about the long-term effects on his health.

Previous Attacks and Political Tension

The government has not responded to the allegations of its involvement in the assassination attempt. This is not the first time Makhanya’s life has been under threat. His house in Eswatini was bombed with military-grade hardware two years ago, forcing him to flee into exile in South Africa.

Political commentator Sihle Dlamini remarked that since the establishment of military ties between Eswatini and Rwanda, the opposition should expect more "Kagame-style" tactics in dealing with political adversaries.

“The military has been a regular visitor to Rwanda, and the country seems to have close relations with Rwanda. It is clear what this relationship entails. This, coming at a time when Makhanya promised a second wave of uprising in October, makes it hard not to speculate that the state was always going to respond,” Dlamini said in a statement earlier today.

The political climate in eSwatini remains charged as the opposition braces for more aggressive tactics from the state, raising concerns about the future of political dissent in the kingdom.