A top member of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) has been threatened with death by Swazi police.
Mduduzi ‘Shwarz’ Mamba, former Secretary General of SWAYOCO, was stopped yesterday (8 March 2009) by police at the kingdom’s border as he returned to Swaziland from a private trip to South Africa.
Mamba was taken to Sigodvweni police station for questioning.
Mamba later reported that police had told him, ‘we are now going to kill you …. for your political activities and “movements” into South Africa’. He was told he should not move from his normal place of abode.
When arrested, Mamba phoned some friends to report what had happened to him. One of his friends went to Sigodvweni. At first police denied they had Mamba in custody, but later conceded that Mamba was being held for ‘questioning’.
Mamba was later released by police and told that police patience with him had run out and was told ‘not to forget’ what they had said.
SWAYOCO is one of four political entities in Swaziland branded as ‘terrorist’ organisations by illegally-appointed Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini. Members and supporters face up to 20 years in jail.
The Swazi state has been harassing SWAYOCO members and eight days ago police broke up a rally called to support Mario Masuku, President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), who has been in jail since November 2008, awaiting trial on terrorism charge.
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