SWAZILAND POLICE IN T-SHIRT RAID

Swaziland police beat up two members of the public and confiscated 400 T-shirts they were carrying

This happened at the Ngwenya border post between Swaziland and South Africa.

According to the Swaziland Solidarity Network, two as yet unnamed relatives of Amos Mbedzi, the man standing trial on charges relating to the alleged bombing of the Lozitha bridge in 2008, were attacked as they tried to enter the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. They had 400 T-shirts with the face of Mbedzi on the front.

The SSN says the T-shirts did not have any emblem or words linking them to any of the organisations listed as proscribed by the Swazi government.

In Swaziland lately police have arrested people wearing T-shirts supporting the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), a banned organization in Swaziland. Democracy activist Sipho Jele, who died while in jail, had been arrested for wearing a PUDEMO shirt.

The SSN reports that Mbedzi’s relatives have been advised to bring assault and theft charges against the Swazi police.

Meanwhile, the trial of Mbedzi, which was due to start on Monday (31 May 2010), has been postponed until 14 June 2010 so that his legal team can prepare.

As a result of the trial’s delay, the SSN nine-day picket at the Swazi consulate has been shifted to start on 14 June.