Swazi dissident Mfomfo Nkhambule has returned to Swaziland and says he is ready to go to jail.
Last week he announced that a warrant had been issued for his arrest on sedition charges because of his outspoken criticism of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and the Swazi ruling elite.
After his controversial weekly column was dropped by the Times of Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent daily, after threats from King Mswati, Nkhambule set up his own website and continued with his writings.
Speaking to the Times Sunday today (7 June 2009) Nkhambule says he has been in South Africa for the past week but he is now back in Swaziland and ready to face jail.
He told the newspaper he was ready to face any reaction to the articles he writes, be it through incarceration or other means.
‘A man has to face the music for his actions. The important thing though is to defend the truth no matter what happens,’ he said.
Nkhambule said, ‘I’m not worried about going to jail. After all, jails were made for criminals and I am not one. What I say or write has no criminal element. It is what I believe is the truth. If those in authority are afraid of the truth, then they will throw us in jail,’ he said.
It seems to me the way the Swazi police have been rounding up anyone who speaks up for democracy in Swaziland it is only a matter of time before the Swazi police oblige Nkhambule.
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