This followed the writing and publication of articles critical of the Swaziland judiciary and in particular of the Swazi Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi.
In delivering his verdict, Judge Mpendulo Simelane
rejected evidence given during the trial by Thulani Maseko, saying it was
irrelevant and a political gimmick. Maseko had delivered a statement in open
court in which he criticised King Mswati and outlined ways in which Swaziland
could not be considered a democracy. The judge said the statement amounted to a
call for regime change in the kingdom.
Judge Simelane also said that constitutionally there was no
absolute right to freedom of expression in Swaziland. He said that both accused
men incited the public against the courts.
The Nation is a monthly magazine which only prints
3,000 copies a month that circulate in Swaziland, where King Mswati III rules
as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
The judgment was reported live across a number of social
media platforms, something unprecedented in Swaziland where mainstream media
are heavily censored. Nearly all broadcasting is state controlled and one of
only two daily newspaper groups in the kingdom is in effect owned by King
Mswati.
Sentence will be imposed after statements of mitigation from
Makhubu and Maseko have been heard.
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