High Commissioner
As the world focuses on football in South Africa, the neighboring Kingdom of Swaziland appears to be moving to a state of civil war!
Recently political activist Sipho Jele was killed in prison in early May - government has still not provided the autopsy report. Political activist Alex Langwenya's home was bombed this past week and last week many political activists were being rounded up.
Now activist Zonke Dlamini has been arrested, taken to Court on Sunday June 13 and sent to the Sidvwashini Correctional - "Sipho Jele who was also...accepted at the Sidvwashini Correctional on Sunday [May 2] and was later reported to have died after allegedly hanging himself" by using a blanket in a wash room where there are no rafters. These type of "suicides" were common during the apartheid era and still occur in the absolute monarchy of Swaziland.
We fear for Zonke's life!
And therefore request that you immediately contact your Swazi counterpart to convey our concern about Zonke's unusual imprisonment. If he should happen to "commit suicide" the country, I fear, will explode as workers, students, unions and ordinary citizens have been pushed to a very dangerous precipice.
Canada and the Commonwealth are overlooking this catastrophe but it will not be enough to report the deaths after the fact.
Sincerely,
Edna Hepry
Saint John, NB, Canada
The following is from the Times of Swaziland: http://www.times.co.sz/?month=6&day=14&year=2010
SWAYOCO member arrested
By MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE on June 14,2010
MBABANE- A member of the proscribed Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) has been arrested in connection with the bombing of houses belonging to Police PRO Vusi Masuku and Mtsambama MP Bheki Mkhonta.
Zonke Thokozani Tradewell Dlamini, 37, of Ekwendzeni under Chief Makhosikhosi yesterday appeared before High Court Judge Nkululeko Hlophe who remanded him back to custody until Friday.
He was arrested on Friday by Nhlangano police in conjunction with officers from Lukhozi Serious Crimes Unit.
The matter which was heard in the morning yesterday was attended by a contingent of police officers and the public gallery was empty. The accused had to spend more than an hour in a police vehicle while waiting for the arrival of the judge.
Dlamini was handcuffed when he arrived at the High Court and was escorted by plain-clothed police officers.
The handcuffs were removed when he was about to enter the courtroom where the case was heard.
When he arrived at the High Court, he was driven in a kombi with private registration numbers, but was later put into a white police van where he spent more than an hour before being taken to court.
The accused has since been slapped with two counts of contravening the Terrorism Act No: 3 of 2008.
When his right of legal representation was explained to him Dlamini first told the court that he would conduct his own defence, but after the charge sheet was read to him changed his mind saying what was written was too technical. "My lord, for today, I will conduct my own defence, but I will seek the services of an attorney during the commencement of the trial as what has been read to me is too technical to understand," he said. Appearing for the crown in this matter was Phumlani Dlamini. Interpreting was Registrar of the High Court Mpendulo Simelane.
Our member denied right of legal representation - Wandile
MBABANE - President of the proscribed Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) Wandile Dludlu alleges that their member was denied his right of legal representation by the police.
He said ever since his arrest on Friday, Zonke Tradewell Dlamini was interrogated by the police and they further refused their attorney to see him. He said the police when asked further denied that the accused person had been arrested while knowing very well that he was in custody.
"We cannot disown him now as we believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Our members were not even aware that he was due to appear before court today (Sunday). Dlamini has been deprived his constitutional right of legal representation by the police and we believe this is uncalled for," he said.
Dludlu said they were not supporting the recent bombings but believed that a person was presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
Deputy Police PRO Assistant Superintendent Wendy Hleta said in their Nhlangano records, they did not have anyone by the name of the suspect.
"I would presume these people went to the wrong station," she said.
Suspect cannot move bail application
MBABANE- The suspect in the two bombing incidents in the Shiselweni region was yesterday told that he could not move a bail application.
The judge told him that it would be impossible for him to move a bail application today (Sunday), as bail applications at the High Court are presented in writing. He said after the application has been written, the prosecution is then given time to go through it and the court then looks at the merits and demerits of that application.
Prison authorities refusing to accept suspects - prosecutor
MBABANE – Correctional Services authorities are said to be refusing to accept suspects on Sundays.
This was disclosed by Prosecutor Phumlani Dlamini who was appearing for the state in the matter of Zonke Tradewell Dlamini who is alleged to have petrol bombed two houses in the Shiselweni region.
Dlamini told Justice Nkululeko Hlophe who was presiding over the matter that prison authorities were refusing to accept suspects who are brought in this manner, especially on Sundays.
"I apply that this court issues an order directing the Commissioner of Correctional Services to allow the accused person to be kept at Sidvwashini Correctional facility pending his committal," he said.
Judge Hlophe then issued an Order to the effect that the commissioner should accept or take into custody at the correctional facility the accused person who is on remand pending his committal.
The late Sipho Jele who was also a member of the proscribed entity was accepted at the Sidvwashini Correctional on Sunday and was later reported to have died after allegedly hanging himself.
