Heinz Valk

Maxwell Dlamini is a Swazi activist, student leader, secretary-general of the Swaziland Youth Congress, and the former president of the University of Swaziland Students Representative Council. He helped to organize pro-democracy student groups in opposition to Eswatini strict monarchical control and has been jailed for his political activism. Dlamini has suffered a stroke as a result of his torture by the Swazi government. 

In recognition of his efforts, Dlamini has been nominated for several student peace awards and was the recipient of the All-Africa Students’ Union’s Student Activist Award in 2013. In 2014, he was arrested again and charged with sedition and terrorism for criticizing the king’s lavish birthday party while most Swazis lived in abject poverty. Dlamini is still awaiting a court hearing at the time of this publication.