Release Communist Leader Musa Dube Update 11 October 2013

The Deputy General Secretary (DGS) of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS), comrade Musa Dube will be appearing in High Court chambers today, 11th October 2013, at 0900 am.

he will be appearing for bail hearing after dreadful 26 days in solitary confinement since his illegal arrest in 14th September 2013.

Comrade Musa Dube was charged with the unpopular sedition charge,a crime he had committed by mobilizing against mswati's sham 2013 elections, of which the CPS anti-elections pamphlet formed the bases of his charge.

He shall appear before judge Mumcy Dlamini who is wife to Majahenkhaba Dlamini the Attorney General (AG), a descendent of the ruling family.

Since his arrest, over more than ten people have been charged with sedition on different circumstances but all related with the struggle against the Mswati autocracy:

- Allen Nkululeko Magongo a farmer from Vuvulane
- 8 young people from Kontshingila for protesting against a mswati imposed chief
- brutal assault of protesters at Gege against a vetted MP whom the view won fraudulently.
We demand his unconditional release and call for a Step up action against the criminalization of dissenting views by the Mswati Regime

NEHAWU SOLIDARITY MESSAGE ON THE ARREST OF CDE MUSA DUBE -CPS DSG

NEHAWU SUPPORTS THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN SWAZILAND

NEHAWU condemns the arrest of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) Deputy General Secretary,Cde Musa Dube by the Swaziland Police’s special unit. We call for his immediate release from this illegal detention.Cde Dube was arrested for participating in peaceful pro-democracy work and not seditious activities as alleged by the Swazi prosecutors. His case is about persecution rather than prosecution.

Mswati is continuing with his use of coercion and fear to intimidate and subjugate the people of Swaziland. He is hell-bent on continuing with his looting of the state resources to feed himself and his rapacious crime family. This is happening at a time when the Swaziland economy and its health system is collapsing and poverty levels have escalated.

Our union calls for the unbanning of all political parties and the release of all political prisoners in Swaziland. All exiled political activists should be allowed to return home and democratic structures should be allowed to develop a new democratic constitution.

The 10 th national congress of our union mandated us to intensify our solidarity work in support of the struggle for a free and democratic Swaziland. Therefore, NEHAWU working with all progressive formations in South Africa and beyond will support the struggle for freedom and democracy in Swaziland by conducting a demonstration this Friday, 20 September 2013 from 07h00am at the ( Jeepes’s Reff) Matsamo border gate between South Africa and Swaziland.

The sham elections organised by the Mswati regime due to take place on 20 th September remain undemocratic under the present political environment, with banned political parties, and leaders of political parties jailed. We support the democratic political forces and civil society’s call for their total boycott.

We invite the media to cover the action and expose Swaziland as a forgotten shame spot of Southern Africa. The people of Swaziland deserve decent education, health care, jobs and housing like all people in a normal society.

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat Office

For further information, please contact: Sizwe Pamla (NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer) at 011 833 2902 - 082 558 5962 or email: sizwep@nehawu.org.za

Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za

SACP PHILIP RADEBE DISTRICT CONDERMS THE ARREST OF CPS DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY

SACP Phillip Radebe District strongly condemns
the arrest of Deputy General Secretary of
Communist Party of Swaziland cde Musa Dube
16 September 2013
The South African Communist Party in Phillip
Radebe District is deeply disgusted over the arrest
of cde Musa Dube, a senior leader of the
Communist Party of Swaziland as its DGS. Cde
Musa Dube was arrested at KaKhoza on Saturday
14th 2013 for simply exercising his right normally
acceptable in most democratic states for freedom
of expression and political association and
subsequently charged with sedition.
This confirms our firm view that we had previously
expressed in various fora that the undemocratic
regime of Tinkundla is standing on shaky ground
and unleashing reign of terror to all it deems to
be an impediment to its gluttonous blood thirsty
barbarism. Cde Musa Dube remains a peace loving
revolutionary whose only crime in the eyes of the
regime is to see a free and democratic Swaziland.
Charges levelled against the Deputy General
Secretary are trumped-up to instil fear thereby
sustaining draconian tyrannical rule of Mswati and
his Tinkundla cronies who are doing everything in
their power to eat up citizens like pigs eating its
piglets. The regime will do everything in its power
to silence masses while evidently the country is
crumbling. Swaziland belongs to all its citizens
and ALL this citizens must benefit from it and not
a selected apologists and praise singers.
The South African Communist Party demands the
immediate release of Cde Musa Dube and others.
The only person that must go to jail is mswati
himself and his collaborators. We call upon our
Democratic State and government arms to be
decisive and putting even more pressure on the
release of ALL political prisoners, unbanning of
political parties, safe return of all political exiles,
an installation of an interim government. Our
Government cannot watch while ordinary peace
loving citizens get maimed, killed, arrested,
bludgeoned and some disappear on mysterious
grounds.
We remain hopeful that Swaziland will be free and
this freedom must happen in our life time.
‘Elections’ cannot be elections when political
parties are banned. ‘Elections’ cannot be elections
when political prisoners languish in jail and some
die there. ‘Elections’ cannot be election when
reign of terror is unleashed on trade union
movement and exiles cannot return home.
Release Musa Dube NOW!
Issued by:
District Spokesperson
Cde Kabelo Ben Monepya
0836628091
District Secretary
Cde Bhobert Sipho Nkosi
0824793057

SSN CONDERMS THE ARREST OF CPS DSG

SSN CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF CPS DGS

SSN-STATEMENT: September 16 th , 2013 In the midst of a so-called democratic election, King Mswati has arrested a top-ranking member of the Communist Party of Swaziland for exercising his inalienable right to express his views. Musa Dube, who is also the Deputy General Secretary of the party, appeared today - the 16th September 2013 - at 1100hr at the Manzini magistrate court before a magistrate. He is charged with two counts: One being that he contravened section 4(c) of the sedition act in that, at Kakhoza in Manzini, on the 24th of September 2013, he unlawfully distributed containing seditious statements to numerous people unknown to the crown. On the second he was charged under section 4(e) of the same act that on the same day at the same place he was found in possession of the same pamphlets. He will appear again on the 25th September 2013 pending his committal to high court. He is currently at the Zakhele Remand Centre, where he will for the duration of his remand period. The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] reiterates the calls by the "Break the Chains Campaign" that more action against the Mswati regime is needed on the ground. This is yet another instance which contradicts the spirit of free and fair elections, yet the SADC observer mission will not even record it in its report to the regional body. We condemn this outright violation of basic human rights and call upon all our solidarity partners to join us on the 20th of September when we will be blocking all boarders leading to the country. We demand that Musa Dube, and all other political prisoners, be set free immediately.

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] South Africa chapter Contact: Lucky Lukhele-spokesperson 072 502 4141

Lucky Lukhele-Tell:011 339 3621 Fax: 0866135762 Mobile: 072 502 4141 Email: lucky.lukhele@gmail.com Skype: LuckyLukhele1 Twitter: lukhelelucky

YCL-SA GERT SIBANDE DISTRIC ON THE ARREST OF CDE MUSA DUBE CPS DSG

Media Statement by the Young Communist League of South Africa Gert Sibande District

16th September 2013

The YCLSA IN Gert Sibande District calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Cde Musa Dube and other activists of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) who were arrested in Swaziland on politically motivated royal police crackdown of political activists ahead of the antidemocratic elections in that country.

The fact that Cde Musa Dube was arrested by the notorious Lukhozi, the royal serious (special) crimes unit, popular for its torture, killings in police cells, and definition above the rule of law dominates our thoughts. We condemn these arrests without trial as a sheer violation of universal human rights. These arrests, torture and detention without trial remind us of similar acts of atrocities by the apartheid machinery on our cadres during the struggle against apartheid.

The YCLSA further rejects Mswati’s new monarchy democracy as ideologically unfounded and bankrupt. We urge all progressive forces to reject this election and they extend and legitimise the western imperial forces influence against the will of Swazis. We view the Swazi Monarchy as an extension of British colonial oppressors who are content with Mswati at the helm and are pushing against a genuine democratic settlement that will benefit all Swazis.

We therefore call for all progressive forces and member states within SADC to reject these elections and support for genuine electoral processes that will support a broader participation by all Swazis. Most importantly all the atrocities committed by Mswatis reign against activists who want to voice out their political will should seize and progressive forces should condemn this conduct.

Issued By

Cde. Zakhele Maya Cde. Sandile Khumalo District Spokesperson District Secretary Cell: 0760716093084/ 083 513 2420 Cell: 083 760 4862 Zakhele.maya@gmail.com

------------------------------------------

Goodwill du-Pont CPS head of Campaigns Cell-+27794724508 Email -goodwilldpnt@gmail.com

BCC UPDATE ON THE ARREST OF CDE MUSA DUBE -CPS DSG

16 SEPTEMBER 2013

THE BREAK THE CHAINS CAMPAIGN - UPDATES ON THE ARREST OF CPS DGS - CDE MUSA DUBE

The comrade appeared today the 16 th September 2013 at 1100hr at the the Manzini magistrate court before magistrate Lucky Groening

His family and four CPS Central Committee members were present at his hearing to give him support.

Comrade Musa Dube was in good spirit amidst the condition of trauma and intimidation he has been going through the past two days in the hand of the murderous regime security forces.

His charge of sedition was read through, a crime alleged to have committed by mobilising for the boycott of the Mswati ‘elections’. It was the CPS pamphlets calling for the boycott of the Mswati anti democracy campaign that forms the bases of the unpopular charge to the comrade – a charge to all activities of the pro democracy movement.

He is charged with two counts: One that he contravened section 4(c) of the sedition act in that, at Kakhoza in Manzini, on the 24 th of September 2013, he unlawfully distributed containing seditious statements to numerous people unknown to the crown. Two, which he was charged under section 4(e) of the same act that on the same day at the same place he was found in possession of the same pamphlets.

He will appear again on the 25th September 2013 pending his committal to high court.

He will be kept in the Zakhele Remand Centre for the duration of his remand period.

The Break the Chains Campaign calls for more actions against the Mswati regime. We call upon all international organizations and individuals to denounce the act of the regime and call for the immediate release of cde Musa Dube and all other political prisoners in Swaziland. The plight of all political activists is in danger as the Mswati regime forces its way with its sham and fraud ‘elections’

More voices must condemn the existence of the Mswati regime because it is a crime to humanity, and demands for the Unbanning of all political parties ,the unconditional release of all political prisoners and the unconditional return of all exiles in Swaziland .

Down with the the Mswati regime!

Down with the sham elections!

Forward to a free democratic Swaziland!

For further communications please contact

Goodwill du-Pont

CPS Head of Campaigns

Cell - +27794724508

Email –goodwilldpnt@gmail.com

PUDEMO Calls for the Release of CPS leader

PUDEMO DEMANDS THE RELEASE OF CPS LEADER
COMRADE MUSA DUBE The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO)
would like to condemn in the strongest possible
terms the arrest of Communist Party of Swaziland
(CPS) Deputy Secretary General, Musa Dube.
Comrade Musa is a well-known revolutionary par
excellence who grew within the ranks of SWAYOCO and has led our youth structures as National Political
Commissar. He is today a senior leader of the
Communist Party and still plays a pivotal role in the
liberation struggle as led by PUDEMO. Comrade Musa was arrested at KaKhoza on Saturday
14th September and held at Manzini police regional
headquarters. Today he appeared for his first
remand hearing at the Manzini Magistrate Court. He
will be kept at Zakhele Remind Centre pending his
bail application to be lodged very soon. He is charged with Sedition for being found in possessing and
distributing pamphlets of a seditious nature. We demand the release of comrade Musa as we
believe he is a peace loving Swazi whose only sin
was to expose the on-going sham elections as the
farce that they are. Together with the CPS and other
political parties, joined by faith based, students and
labour organisations we are calling for the rejections of these sham elections whose outcome is
predetermined and will not change the rotten
political system called Tinkhundla. We call upon the SADC team to reject these stage
managed elections and to refuse to observe an
elections where political parties are banned and
political activist criminalised.
We are already in touch with comrade Musa’s lawyer
to ensure that he is assisted throughout the legal processes. We call upon all our members and the
public at large to attend all his court appearances in
support of our course. Statement issued by PUDEMO spokesperson Zakhele
Mabuza

Sortu conderms arrest of CPS DSG

SORTU condemns the arrest of CPS Deputy General by Swazi special units and demand his inmediate release.

On 14 September the Swazi police special unit, Lukhozi, arrested Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) Deputy General Secretary Musa Dube while he was campaigning for a boycott of the so called “elections” being staged by the Mswati regime on 20 September.

Musa Dube was conducting campaign work to promote he message that the only elections that should be held in Swaziland are free and fair ones, where all political are able to take part on whatever platform they want. Those elections are the exact opposite of that. They are merely a way of selecting who will serve him best.

Sortu denounces his arrest and demand his release

As well as the release of all swazi political prisoners. We demand the end of the Mswati regime and free and fair elections

Swazi Communists Denounce arrest of leader as human rights violation

Swazi communists denounce arrest of leader as human rights violation

NELSPRUIT, 15 Sept. 2013: On 14 September the Swazi police special unit, Lukhozi, arrested Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) Deputy General Secretary Musa Dube while he was campaigning for a boycott of the “elections” being staged by the Mswati regime on 20 September.

Cde Dube has been confined at the notorious Manzini police station, and is due to appear in court this week on a charge of sedition.

The CPS has called for his immediate release, and for all progressive organizations and parties to condemn Dube’s arrest and detention.

“Sedition is the term Mswati uses to describe pro-democracy work,” said CPS general secretary in response to news of the arrest.

“Our comrade was conducting campaign work to promote the message that the only elections that should be held in Swaziland are free and fair ones, where all political are able to take part on whatever platform they want. Mswati’s elections are the exact opposite of that. They are merely a way of selecting who will serve him best.”

The police have been closely monitoring CPS activity against the elections. For days they had shadowed Dube and a fellow activist, who was with him, before moving in. His fellow comrade managed to escape. Dube allegedly had a PUDEMO (People’s United Democratic Movement) t-shirt in his possession at the time of his arrest.

The intimidation of activists campaigning for a boycott of the elections increased following a go-ahead recently by police commissioner Isaac Magagula who opined about the “threat” to the elections by “groups and individuals”.

The Mswati regime has been buoyed in its elections sham by the generally uncritical and permissive attitude to them by most African states, SADC, and the international community. Only a week ago, the British ‘think tank’ Chatham House timed a visit to Swaziland to voice general approval for the elections and against the pro-democracy movement’s opposition to them.

“Despite this, most Swazis are aware that the elections are a silly game of Mswati’s,” said Kunene. “No one believes that they are about improving anything in the country.”

“Maybe if Swaziland was strategically important and a larger country, you would see heavyweight nations and others, and even some supposedly progressive forces, gushing about the aching need for democracy. But since it isn’t they are not really interested, and they’re happy to see things remain more or less as they are.”

Kunene said that the arrest of Musa Dube must be condemned as a human rights violation.

“We urge progressive organizations and individuals everywhere to slam this act of intimidation. And they must be vigilant in the days leading up to the elections. We are bound to see more police harassment of people who protest against the elections.”

CPS DGS ARRESTED

Break the Chains Update !!!
Royal police crackdown on political activist ahead
of Mswati's anti democracy elections'
Mswati's police this morning arrested CPS DGS cde
Musa Dube in Manzini. Charges are yet unknown.
He was spoted driven by Lukhozi, the royal serious
crime unit known for its toture and killings in
police cells.
There were eight Lukhozi police who were driving
on a kombi together with the political activist.
Currently he is not confirmed by the manzini
police station. This means he is in and out of
police cells torture.
We strongly condemn the inhuman and barbaric
act of mswati's regime.
We call for a massive boycott of the elections and
further peaceful disruption is of significant value
at this stage.

Cde Wonder Mkhonza admitted to E15 000bail reports the swazi times

PUDEMO’s Wonder gets E15 000 bail
BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE
Font size:
MBABANE – National Organising Secretary of
the proscribed People’s Democratic
Movement (PUDEMO) Wonder Rodgers
Mkhonta has been admitted to E15 000 bail.
The accused is expected to pay this amount in
cash.
Mkhonta was admitted to bail by High Court Judge
Qinisile Mabuza yesterday.
He has been in custody since April 10, 2013 after he
was arrested by Lavumisa police.  The PUDEMO
member was allegedly found in possession of
seditious documents.
Some of his bail conditions were that he should
surrender his passport to the investigating officer,
he should report at the Nhlangano police station
every Friday and that he should not interfere with
crown witnesses.
He was also warned that in the event he breached
the bail conditions his bail would be revoked.
The state was opposing Mkhonta’s application on
the basis that upon his release he might disturb
the upcoming elections.
His Lawyer Leo Gama, however, successfully argued
that Mkho-nta was not a flight risk and that there
was no way he could interfere with crown
witnesses in the event he was admitted to bail
Sergeant Sipho Sitsebe in his affidavit, stated  that
it would not be in the interest of justice to admit
Mkhonta to bail because of the seriousness of the
charge preferred against him and because of the
possible sentence if found guilty.
In his affidavit Mkhonta alleged that when he was
arrested, the motor vehicle in which the alleged
seditious documents were found in had not be
driven into the country, but was on neutral
territory between the Swazi and South Africa
border. Sergeant Sitsebe, however, disputed this
and instead he stated that the motor vehicle was
searched upon entering Swaziland at the border
post.

THE CONDITION OF CDE DERRIC AT SIDVWASHINI PRISON IS A WORRY

Check this.

Communist Party of Swaziland -Campaigns office 8 may 2013

CONDITION OF CDE DERRICK IN SIDWASHINI PRISON IS A WORRY

Today was the third court appearance of the three political prisoners arrested at the APRIL 19 TH SWAYOCO MSUNDUZA RALLY against the Mswati anti democracy elections. 1. Comrades Maxwell Dlamini - Secretary General of (SWAYOCO) 2. Mfanawenkhosi ‘Boer’ Mtshali -Central Committee member of the CPS 3. Derrick Nkhambule - Campaigns Coordinator in CPS Peasant Commission. They are all charged with Sedition and are kept in hostile conditions at the notorious Sidwashini Remand Centre in Mbabane. were all due to appear in the Mbabane magistrate court today. As reported few days ago on the bad health situation of Cde Derrick Nkhambule, he was not able to attend court today as his situation deteriorates. The prison authorities are refusing our cdes access to basics including medical demands. The prison is isolating them because the warders have already issued judgment to the cdes. They denial them rights to fair treatment as a sentence for what they allege treason crime for plotting against Mswati, a crime the prison has already issued a sentence to. Our cdes will not receive the necessary rights in these institutions and the regime is prepared to keep them long under the selectively harsh conditions. This will survive as the Mswati regime continues to deny they are political prisoners when they are because it wants to close the international human rights organisations from setting the standards such prisoners held by such a regime. We call upon international human rights organisations to act against the human rights violations in Swaziland and claim the responsibility over the lives of our comrades for their safely and health. We are encouraged by the ceaseless fight for their prison rights of our comrades even under risky and hostile conditions inside the prison. Their next appearance is the 14 th May 2013 pending committal to High Court. Their representative has already filed papers in the High Court for their bail application. We stand side by side with the families who are battling to cover their family responsibilities at this time of their members persecution by the Mswati regime. We demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, the Unbanning of political parties and the safe return of all Swazi exiles. FORWARD WITH THE BREAK THE CHAINS CAMPAIGN For details contact; Goodwill du-Pont Head of Campaigns -CPS Mobile: +27794724508 Email: goodwilldpnt@gmail.com

THE BREAK THE CHAINS CAMPAIGN - BCC

         

BREAK THE CHAINS

Of

Swaziland’s political prisoners!

Join the campaign, add your voice, and get involved!

The Communist Party of Swaziland is building a broad-based campaign delinked from any party political affiliation called BREAK THE CHAINS. The aim is to demand the release of political prisoners/detainees in Swaziland. We hope you will consider joining the campaign by contacting us (see below). BREAK THE CHAINS welcomes individual supporters as well as organisations.

BREAK THE CHAINS is a campaign for the unconditional release of political prisoners/detainees in Swaziland. There are currently eleven activists who are being held without due process on trumped up charges.

They are imprisoned because of their support for the freedom struggle in Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy. We appeal to you to support BREAK THE CHAINS by making your voice heard to demand the release of the eleven activists.

We are also linking the campaign demands with an urgent call for the unbanning of political parties and organisations in Swaziland and guarantees on the safe return of political exiles. We must BREAK THE CHAINS of the five imprisoned activists and BREAK THE CHAINS of the Swazi people!

Swaziland faces a massive struggle to achieve democracy in the face of a vile and corrupt regime, under king Mswati III, that presides over the mass poverty of the Swazi people and their suffering the highest HIV-AIDS-TB rates in the world – all this while the regime lives in gross luxury and wastes the country’s resources on vanity projects for the royal elite.

BREAK THE CHAINS to ensure the release of:

1.    Amos Mbedze - A South African, member of the ANC, SACP, Umkhonto Wesizwe) arrested in September 2008, he was convicted and sentenced to 85 years in prison , currently he is on appeal.

2.    Bheki Dlamini - SWAYOCO PRESIDENT: arrested in 2010, denied bail, no trial. 

3.    Zonke Dlamini - SWAYOCO LEADER: arrested in 2010; denied bail, no trial since arrested.

4.    Maxwell Dlamini -FORMER SNUS PRESIDENT, (CURRENT SWAYOCO SECRETARY GENERAL): arrested in 2011; granted E50 000 bail with strict control and monitor conditions.

-         He was arrested again on  21^st April 2013 after a rally that was held in Mbabane, Msunduza location on 19^th April 2013.

He was charged with sedition.

5.     Musa Ngubeni – FORMER STUDENT LEADER: arrested in April 2011, st granted E50 000 bail with strict control and monitor conditions

6.    Roland Rudd- Long time political and human rights activist ,ha s been denied bail and no trial date

7.    Basil Thwala –A trade union leader who has been convicted on weak grounds, was arrested during a transport strike

8.    Kevin Dlamini- Student leader who was arrested during a strike action, denied bail.

9.    Wonder Mkhonza – The National Organizing Secretary of PUDEMO

He has been charged with sedition.

He was arrested on 12^th April 2013

10.Mfanwenkhosi Boer Mntshali – A PUDEMO member and long serving SWAYOCO leader.

He is also a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS). He was arrested on 19th April 2013 during a SWAYOCO rally. He has been charged with sedition.

11.Derick Nkhambule – PUDEMO member and long serving SWAYOCO member. He is also a Campaigns Officer of the Peasant Commission, a member of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS). He was charged with sedition, after being arrested during a SWAYOCO rally  on 19^th April 2013.

THE LIST OF THE 16 BOMB SUSPECTS AND TREASON TRIALISTS WHO WERE ARRESTED IN 2005, THEY WERE RELEASED ON BAIL:

-         FIRSTLY IT WAS E50 000

-         E3 000 BAIL

-         THE REST SURITY E2 000

EFFECTS OF THE ARREST

Gibholo Nkhambule– SUFFERED AFTER THE ARREST TO DEATH

Sipho Jele – continuously harassed until he was killed in the hands of police for wearing a PUDEMO T-shirt

VUSI SHONGWE, ROBERT NDZIMA, THEMBA MABUZA – they lost their jobs and benefits. Two of them had to relocate to South Africa

Ignitious Bonginkosi Dlamini (IB) – relocated to South Africa as he was constantly under surveillance in Swaziland

Brian Slovo Shaw – continuously harassed until he relocated to South Africa

Wandile Dludlu – was forced to abandon his tertiary education and further harassed and brutalized by the police

Goodwill du Pont – he was under constant police surveillance until he relocated to South Africa. His family was also threatened by police and the traditional structures

Sicelo Mkhonta – his FAMILY WAS THREATENED WITH EVICTIONS BUT STILL RESIDE INSIDE THE COUNTRY

Mduduzi Mamba – he lost his job and his wife was killed under police brutality

Other Swazis who have suffered under the brutality of police:

-         Mathousand Ngubeni- he died in the hands of police at Sigodvweni police station

-         Ntokozo Ngozo – he was murdered by police in broad day light after he surrendered himself half-naked to prove that he was un-armed, in August 2007.

-         Fikile Fakudze – she died immediately after police interrogation in December 2005.

-         Bongani ‘Slagpan’ Vilakati- killed at Mabovini in March 2001.

-         Jele Sibusiso and Edison Makhanya of Bhunya who were arrested for allegedly stealing cell-phones and later murdered by police in custody

-         Nandi Hlophe- she died in the police custody in  April 2004.

-          Thabani Mafutha Dlamini- he was shot and killed at Magele in Nhlangano, in March 2012

-         Diba-diba Zikalala- he was shot twice by police, three days after  Mafutha’s murder.

-         Sihle Mbhembe – he was killed in a police cell in Mbabane, in 2012

-         Bhekinkosi Scarface Masina- he was killed by police, in 2011

-         Sikhumbuzo Thwala – he died in police cell

-         Phumelele Mkhweli- a worker  from Siteki, chased by police to his death

-         Thokozani Wiseman Mngometulu- shot and killed at Lubulini in late March 2013

-         There are also noticeable Vicious attacks on workers > NAAPSAWU

o   SNAT

o   SPRAWU

o   STUDENTS

o   LAWYERS

-         EVICTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE STATE IN AREAS SUCH AS:

o   Macetjeni

o   Kamkhweli

o   KaShali

o   Embita

o   Madonsa

o   Murray camp

o   Sandile Dlamini- a soldier from Mahlabatsini, evicted and fired from work

-         The bombing of Alex LaNgwenya’s house at Bhunya

-         Others were forced into exile due to the escalating police brutality and terror since 1983, 1998, and those in 2005.

                                 

Support BREAK THE CHAINS

We urge you to:

-         Send demands to the Swazi government and the king calling for the immediate release of Amos Mbedze, Basil Thwala ,Roland Rudd ,Kevin Dlamini ,Bheki Dlamini, Zonke Dlamini, Maxwell Dlamini, Musa Ngubeni, Wonder Mkhonza, Mfanwenkhosi Boer Mntshali and Derick Nkhambule.

-         Raise awareness on the issue of Swaziland’s political prisoners by spreading news of the campaign for their release.

-         Raise the issue in your community, trade union branch, Church group, and among your neighbours and friends.

If you are outside Swaziland:

-         Issue calls to Swazi diplomatic missions for the release of political prisoners.

-         Demand the boycott of Swaziland by the government of the country in which you reside until all political prisoners are released.

-         Get your organisation / political party to join the campaign

CONTACT

Goodwill DuPont

Deputy Chairperson & Head of Campaigns CPS

Email: goodwilldpnt@gmail.com

Cell: 079 472 4508

Harassment of political prisoners

Communist Party of Swaziland
Campaigns office
4 may 2013
HARRASMENT AND ILL TREATMENT OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SWAZILAND
Comrades and friends,
It has come to our attention once
again that the political prisoners held
by the selfish tinkhundla
administration have been on several
occasions harassed and ill treated by
prison authorities verbally and
physically.
These report comes after visits to the
comrades held at SIdvwashini prison
in the capital city Mbabane, where
they complained of being insulted by
prison warders , and manhandled at
some point . The comrades have been
subjected to a pre-prison trial on the
cases that we believe are in the
courts , where political warders
accuse them of attempting on the life
of the king and destabilizing the
country, thus they have been denied
some rights ,such as medical
attention .
This act is common with the prison
warders and police in Swaziland
particularly when it comes to political
prisoners. We therefore feel the lives
of our comrades is in constant danger
while behind those walls of
repression
In the 2005/6 treason trial numerous
complains of harassment and ill-
treatment perpetuated by these
authorities emerged , in may 2010
comrade Sipho Jele died in prison
cells after being tortured and
neglected by the prison authorities ,
while in 2011 comrades Maxwell
Dlamini and Musa Ngubeni were
tortured by foreign agents inside
prison facilities , and many such
cases confirm that these prisons
under the mswati dictatorship have
not been converted to correctional
facilities but theaters of persecution
of political opponents of the
tinkhundla system of government.
We call upon the world, human rights
organizations, in particular the Red
Cross and Amnesty International to
act with speed in regards to the
matter. And also urge the support of
political formations and progressive
governments to condemn these acts ,
and cut all ties with the autocratic
tinkhundla administration
For further information contact
The head of Campaigns in the CPS
Goodwill du-Pont
Cell; +27794724508
Email: goodwilldpnt@gmail.com

CPS Media Statement

CPS calls for release of activists and international action against Mswati

26 April 2013

In recent days the Swazi autocratic regime has clamped down on its pro-democracy opponents, especially those calling for a boycott of Mswati III’s rubber-stamp “elections”, due to be held later this year.

Those arrested include SWAYOCO Secretary General Maxwell Dlamini, and SWAYOCO International Affairs Secretary Sonkhe Dube; PUDEMO National Organiser and trade union leader Wonder Mkhonza, and members of Communist Party of Swaziland Central Committee Mfanawenkhosi Mtshali and Derrick Nkhambule.

The main charge against the activists is sedition, indicating that Mswati views opposition to his elections as treason.

Also, the editor of The Nation magazine, Bheki Makhubu, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment or R400 000 fine for criticizing chief justice in his publication.

The Nation is the only news publication in Swaziland that routinely dares to expose the corruption and venality of the feudal Tinkhundla government and royal mafia.

Responding to news of the arrests and the sentencing of Makhubu, CPS general secretary Kenneth Kunene said: “The regime is desperate to make its elections appear respectable, fair and free so as to appease the international community. But in reality they are the very opposite of freedom or fairness.”

Under the 2005 Constitution, hailed as the Commonwealth as progressive, no political parties are allowed to run for office or campaign on a political platform. The stipulations of the 1973 decree that instituted direct royal rule against the existence of political parties essentially remain in force.

“The Mswati dictatorship is also clamping down more widely on opposition at this time,” says Kunene. “Increasingly, we are seeing shows of force by the police and army, designed to intimidate anyone contemplating resisting the regime.”

The CPS has called for the immediate release of all political detainees and prisoners. The party’s Break the Chains campaign is joining this call with the demand for the safe return of exiles and the unbanning of political parties.

“We call on the international community, particularly SADC, the AU, EU and UN to take a resolute stand on the crimes of the Mswati regime and to demand an end to the dictatorship,” said Kunene.

CPS PRESS SERVICES

Contacts for details: +27 74 922 8277 or +277 25943971

COSATU Nkomazi local on the swazi arrests

COSATU
CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS
NKOMAZI LOCAL 
NKOMAZI LOCAL

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
E-Mail: kabenzor.churky@gmail.com

Cell: 083 66 28 091

Fax: 0866981623

Tel: 013 780 3132

Nkomazi COSATU Local Statement on brutality meted against political activists in Swaziland
23 April 2013

The COSATU Local in Nkomazi is deeply disgusted and saddened by the manner in which the daily life of Swazis continues to be brutalised and bastardised by the intransigent Tinkundla regime. We have learned with shock how two and possibly several other activists were arrested at a SWAYOCO election Rally meant to oppose the sham August 2013 ‘elections’ in Swaziland. CdeMfanawnkosi ‘Boer’ Mntshaliand Cde Derrick Nkambule both from the banned People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) were arrested on the 19 April 2013 in Msunduza, Mbabane in Swaziland. The comrades who are members of the Communist Party of Swaziland and hold responsibility there are being tortured in secrecy in Mbabane. We are making a clarion call that South Africa and Nkomazi cannot continue being a pseudo Ireland in the Sea of barbarism, hatred, greed, and brutality by the monarchy meted on the peoples the peoples of Swaziland. We have seen how despite this brutal instrument being used, apartheid regime was dislodged and this regime too shall be dislodged.

It is far disturbing to learn that special reserve stations had been erected to torture, maim, silence, and instil fear in the broader progressive movement and peace loving peoples of Swaziland. Indeed the regime is swallowing its own children with its zest for greed and hunger to cling to power in the sea of frustration by the majority.

Those arrested have not been given full rights as enshrined in universal laws of natural justice that of innocence until proven otherwise, right to have access to a legal representative and speedily appear before a court of law within 48 hours. We call for the immediate release of all arrested comrades at the Rally. The Swazi Royal police and other security forces elevate its barbarism over genuine calls by swazi people for boycotting sham elections, unbanning of political parties, unconditional release of all political prisoners, return of political exiles and call for interim government of the people.

COSATU in Nkomazi will continue to work internally for the total isolation of economic relations with the regime and fight side by side with progressive forces such as Communist Party of Swaziland, PUDEMO, SWAYOCO, and Trade union movement for the total liberation of the peoples of Swaziland. We call all forces within South Africa and at international level to unite in action denouncing this regime. The peoples of Swaziland shall have the last word, that of victory!

Victoria accerta…aluta continua! ‘Freedom is coming’!

Issued by:
CdeKabelo Ben Monepya
COSATU Local Secretary
0836628091""

UPDATES ON SWAZI ARRESTS

CPS CAMPAIGNS OFFICE

UPDATES ON THE ARBITRARY ARREST OF SWAZI LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS
Friends and comrades, the swazi regime has  engaged itself on a serious campaign to arrest and torture leaders and activist inside the country.
The recent updates on these arrests are that 
Yesterday the 22nd of April comrades Mfanawenkhosi Boer Mtshali and Derrick Nkambule were supposed to make their first court appearance in the Mbabane magistrate court , lawyers and comrades were waiting for them there until sunset , only to learn later that the two were secretly remanded back to custody until the 29th of April 2013,. They have been slapped with a Sedition charge , and they remain without bail pending an application at the High Court of Swaziland . The secrete appearance before the magistrate court, and the denial to see them at Sidvwashini prison would only mean one thing , and that , the comrades might have visible injuries after they were tortured over the weekend. 
This morning again the Swazi police raided the residential places of two SWAYOCO leaders and arrested them , these are the SWAYOCO Secretary general comrade Maxwell Dlamini and the National Organizing Secretary. Currently they are in the hand s of police who are capable of anything with regards to their lives. 
This week we also look forward to the bail application of the National Organizing Secretary and union leader Comrade Wonder Mkhonza who was charged with SEDITION by the Swazi regime .
There are many more comrades who have noticed strange surveillance cars around their homes. The uncertainty is growing each minute on every Swazi activist on these arrest attempt to silence the tinkhundla resistance . 
We call upon all progressive forces across the globe to condemn this barbaric act of the unpopular regime , demand their governments to cut ties with the mswati regime, and demand that all political prisoners must be released unconditionallyand allow political formation to participate freely .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
The head of Campaigns in the CPS
Goodwill du-Pont 
Cell -+_27794724508
Email-goodwilldpnt@gmail.com

SADTU DEMANDS THE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF POLITICAL DETAINEES

SADTU demands release of CPS comrades arrested in Swaziland

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) notes the reported arrest and torture of two members of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) following a SWAYOCO (Swaziland Youth Congress) Rally on Friday, 19 April 2013, at Msunduza, in the capital Mbabane, Swaziland.

These two comrades have not been charged with any offence, although the statutory 48 hours limit has passed within which they are supposed to have been charged, or released. The comrades have been interrogated at the Police Head Quarters in Mbabane, where the Communist Party of Swaziland believes they have been tortured there by the Swaziland Special Force political police who captured them.

The two comrades are:

Comrades Mfanawenkhosi ‘BOER’ Mntshali, a long-time member of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO, currently a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS)

Comrade Derrick Nkambule, also a member of PUDEMO, currently serving as the Campaigns Officer in the Peasant Commission on the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS)

SADTU demands the release of these two men at once. SADTU hopes that if they are not promptly released, then strong concerted protest action by South African masses and their organisations, including by our sister affiliates of COSATU, co-ordinated by our federation, will follow.

Issued by: SADTU Secretariat

Contact: Mugwena Maluleke, General Secretary, 082 783 2968 Nkosana Dolopi, Deputy General Secretary, 082 709 5651 Nomusa Cembi, Media Officer.