The clampdown against political dissidents in Swaziland is continuing.
Heavily armed police raided the home of Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) Secretary General Thabile Zwane and took her in for eight hours of interrogation at Sigodvweni Police Station.
SWAYCO is one of four organisations branded as ‘terrorists’ by Swaziland’s illegally-appointed Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini.
The raid took place at about 4am yesterday (Wednesday 4 February 2008).
According to SWAYOCO’s President, Wandile Dludlu, a number of documents which were found in Zwane’s possession were confiscated.
He told the Times of Swaziland that they included their constitution, manifesto and other basic documents.
‘They told her that she had been taken in for questioning because she was found with documents supporting terrorism,’ said Dludlu.
Dludlu said he believed that what the police did was intimidation and violation of their rights as Swazi citizens.
He told the newspaper that the police said Zwane was supporting terrorism in that she was attending meetings that were planning sabotage.
He said that they made all this accusations without evidence and failed to identify the meetings of sabotage she attended.
Dludlu added that when Zwane was released she was told that she could be called in on Monday and be formally charged for supporting terrorism.
The Times reported police spokesperson Superintendent Vusi Masuku saying that Zwane was called in as part of the police’s duty to interview anyone they felt may be a threat to safety and security and there was nothing sinister with the questioning.
Zwane’s arrest is part of a clampdown of pro-democracy campaigners in Swaziland. Mario Masuku, president of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) was arrested in November 2008 and remains in jail awaiting trial. Police changed the charges against him at least twice when they were unable to find evidence to support their original claim that he possessed documents on weapons making.
Last month Zodwa Mkhonta, a leading activist in PUDEMO was arrested under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. Her son was subsequently accused of distributing PUDEMO leaflets.
There is also a long-running attempt to silence Mfomfo Nkhambule, a former Swaziland Government cabinet member and present chair of the Inhlava Forum political organisation, who has written articles in the Times of Swaziland deemed critical of King Mswati III.
He has been threatened with up to 20 years in jail if he continues to criticise the monarch.
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