Kenworthy News Media
May 10, 2013
Wonder Mkhonza granted bail
According to a
statement today from PUDEMO national spokesperson, Zakhele Mabuza, Wonder
Mkhonza has been granted a bail of 15 000 emalangeni, approximately 1650 US$,
writes Kenworthy News Media.
Wonder Mkhonza was arrested on April 12 for
allegedly possessing 5000 political pamphlets, and the international ACT Now: Free Wonder Mkhonza campaign started by Africa Contact has called for
his release ever since.
“This is quite a
huge ransom to pay for ordinary poor Swazis who live on under $ 1 per day,”
says the statement. “But Leo Gama, Wonder’s lawyer has been able to convince
the court and secure the release on bail.”
Mabuza thanked
those who had campaigned for Wonder’s release, but insisted that Wonder
remained a political prisoner even though he was released on bail. “The ransom
he is to pay for his freedom is only meant to keep him away from the prison
while out there he is still a prisoner. He joins a growing list of many
political prisoners who are all our members that have been out on bail, but
their cases are deliberately not finalized. In the process these are suffering
from the extremely stringent conditions that are imposed on them. Such include
unreasonable reporting at a police station and the removal of their freedom to
travel outside Swaziland.”
The fight for
the release of political prisoners such as Wonder is linked directly to the
fight for democracy and human rights in Africa’s last absolute monarchy, said
the statement. “However difficult the route to democracy might be, we are never
intimidated and we shall continue to call for the release of all political
prisoners; respect for people’s rights; unbanning of all political parties; and
the democratization of the country’s politics.”
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