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