About Mario Masuku
Lived 1951 – 2021 (aged 69–70). Mario Masuku was a politician.
Mario Thembeka Masuku (9 October 1951 – 11 January 2021) was a Swazi politician who was the leader of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Eswatini's banned opposition party.
Early life and education He was born on 9 October 1951, in the village of Makhosini, in Nhlangano, Eswatini. His father, Malcom, worked in the mines in Makhosini, and was also afterward a cowherd working in the Ministry of Agriculture in the Shiselweni Region. He was suspended multiple times during his education there for criticizing what he stated was racism by British teachers towards native Swazi teachers.
On 1 May 2014, Masuku, after a making a speech at a May day rally in Manzini, was arrested together with student activist Maxwell Dlamini. They were charged with terrorism and sedition. A widely supported international campaign for their release was started shortly thereafter.
He died on 11 January 2021, aged 69, from COVID-19.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Mario Masuku?
Swazi politician
When was Mario Masuku born?
Mario Masuku was born in 1951.
When did Mario Masuku die?
Mario Masuku died on 11 January 2021.
What was Mario Masuku's occupation?
Mario Masuku was a politician.
What nationality was Mario Masuku?
Mario Masuku's recorded nationality: Eswatini.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mario Masuku. https://biography.guide/mario-masuku/
MLA: "Mario Masuku." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mario-masuku/.
Chicago: "Mario Masuku." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mario-masuku/.
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