DEFIANCE FROM SWAZILAND JAIL CELL

Mario Masuku, the Swazi pro-democracy activist imprisoned by the state, has sent a message from his jail cell to his supporters.

Masuku, President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) was arrested in November 2008 under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. He has been in jail since then awaiting trial.

Prison authorities restricted the number of visitors Masuku could see until the Swaziland High Court ruled against them.

The authorities ignored the ruling and continued to restrict his visits, while rumours spread that he was in bad health (he suffers from diabetes).

Now PUDEMO, a political party banned in Swaziland and branded a ‘terrorist’ organisation by Barnabas Dlamini, the kingdom’s illegally-appointed prime minister, has issued a message from Masuku.

Masuku says he is ‘doing fine’. PUDEMO says you that he remains ‘resolute and committed to the fight for a democratic Swaziland. The fighting spirit remains unbroken despite the harsh conditions and hostility paralleled with his medical condition.’

PUDEMO says Masuku ‘takes great pleasure and comfort to the great work and contribution that PUDEMO is doing at the moment. He fully recognizes the contribution of solidarity by our friends on the international front. The President takes pride and draws confidence from the consistent work that is done on a daily basis.’