Twelve+PUDEMO+members+charged+with+High+Treason

P.O. Box 187, Simunye, Swaziland, **Southern Africa** Office 301 SNAT Co-op. Building, Manzini Tel: (09268) 6075479/(09268)3838718 e-mail: ib@posix.co.sz


 * 3rd January, 2006

The Swazi King arrests and charges 12 PUDEMO members for high treason – December 2005
The NEC of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has mandated me to brief yourselves on the recent political developments in Swaziland and our request for assistance wherever possible.

1.0 Briefing on the state of affairs of the political situation in Swaziland

1.1 King Mswati III has continued to rule the country by a state of emergency since 1973 when his father, the late King Sobhuza II stage a constitutional coup and repealed the 1968 Westminster type independence constitution.

1.2 He has crafted a constitution that will continue his absolute control over the 1.1 million Swazi citizens. In this constitution he sought and managed to amass more powers to himself than before. Worse still is that this now legitimizes his grip on all spheres of our peoples’ livelihood. He controls all the land and by extension the daily lives of our people who rely on these lands for subsistence. He never hesitates to evict anyone who dares challenge his brutal reign hence we now have political refugees in neighboring South Africa and other countries. He controls the economy as he has personal shares in all major companies in Swaziland, particularly the once economic lifeline, the sugar industry. He controls a supposedly “National Investment company” called Tibiyo, a company that he was supposed to hold in trust of the Swazi nation. This company has shares in all major companies under the Royalties system. Unfortunately proceeds from these investments are abused by the King and his family. The money is used to build the many palaces for his 14 wives, and support the family’s ever increasing appetite for expensive living.

1.3 On the other hand our people are forced to live on less that $1 a day per family. HIV/AIDS is ravaging our people, at 45% of the population. Unemployment, hunger and poverty are the order of the day.

1.4 The call by pro democracy groups both political and civic groups for dialogue for a peaceful transition to multiparty parliamentary democracy has been rejected by the King.

1.5 The international community has either been quiet or supported the King on all these atrocities. The SADDC, AU and UN have been quiet except for Mozambique and the Republic of South Africa. The commonwealth secretariat under some Professor Adefuye has supported the King all the way, irrespective of the glaring abuse of our people. The British government has relocated her High Commission to South Africa and has told us that she no longer has any bilateral relations with the King’s regime. But we humbly believe as a former colonial power, the British government can do more to influence change in Swaziland.

2.0 Recent developments and the arrest of 12 PUDEMO/ SWAYOCO members on allegations of petrol bombings of state buildings;

2.1 In November and December 2005 12 PUDEMO members were arrested at various parts of the country; 2.1.1 Robert Nzima 2.1.2 Mduduzi Mamba 2.1.3 Goodwill Dupont 2.1.4 Themba Mabuza 2.1.5 Sicelo Mkhonta 2.1.6 Mfanawenkhosi Mtshali 2.1.7 Kenneth Mkhonta 2.1.8 Vusi Shongwe 2.1.9 Sipho Jele 2.1.10 Mduduzi Dlamini 2.1.11 Sipho Hlophe 2.1.12 Mfanufikile Nkambule

2.2 Charges

2.2.1 Charged under section 96 (13) (a) of act 67 of 1938 as amended

Count 1: High treason, alternatively sedition and subversive activities Count 2: Attempted murder Count 3: Attempted murder

The high treason charge in non - bailable and can attract 20 years or death sentence

The attempted murder charges are equally serious

3.0 The state has contracted the services of an advocate from neighboring South Africa in addition to local government lawyers and the attorney General

4.0 We have sought for services of local lawyers; about 3 currently without an advocate as lawyers’ fees are outside our means. The deposit for each lawyer is about $400

5.0 Our request to yourselves

5.1 Assistance towards legal counsel 5.2 Putting pressure on the government to stop the brutal attack on our members, both inside jail and outside ( Details of torture in pictures and cases of injuries inflicted under brutal interrogation will be sent to you soon) 5.3 Help highlight the plight of our friends and comrades in incarceration. 5.4 Assistance towards the school fees for the children of the arrested members so that their education cannot be disrupted (We may be introduced to other organizations which are best suited for this humanitarian assistance both in Africa and overseas) 5.5 Call for international pressure on King Mswati’s regime; 5.5.1 Smart sanctions 5.5.2 Suspensions or expulsions from international bodies like Commonwealth, UN etc 5.5.3 Economic sanctions etc

Finally, we hope and pray to the almighty God that our people shall not be forgotten like the Ruanda people. Lastly, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting for the freedom of our people. Our movement has been in existence for 23 years and all these years has been trying so hard to get a peaceful resolution of the political problems of our country. All that we received was brutal onslaught from King Mswati III and his private police force. As mentiond above is that the world has been quiet and even today, there is a deafening silence from the people of the world.

God willing we shall overcome someday soon.

Yours in the struggle for a free Swaziland,

Secretary General
 * Ignatius Bonginkosi Dlamini**