Ncamiso Ngcamphalala, the Swaziland (eSwatini)
democracy activist arrested for sedition after he was quoted in a news report
criticising absolute monarch King Mswati III, had an application for bail
opposed at the Swazi High Court.
Detailed papers have yet to be filed in the case.
Ngcamphalala asked to be released on bail until the court case was heard. In
Swaziland, defendants are
often held in jail for many years awaiting trial. He told
the court his two children had been reduced ‘to mere beggars’ while he was
locked up.
Ngcamphalala
was arrested on 1 May 2020 and charged with an offence
under the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act 1938. The bail application is
still pending.
Ngcamphalala who is President of the Swaziland Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was charged
for comments he made in an a
article published by Swati
Newsweek, a news website.
In the report Ngcamphalala
was quoted saying, ‘We want government to change people’s lives, the Swazi
Monarchy must know its place. We respect the King, but respect is earned and
when pushed into a corner; we will be forced to retaliate. We unapologetically
stand for multi-party democracy.’
In Swaziland, King Mswati chooses the Prime Minister
and government ministers as well as top judges and civil servants. Political
parties cannot take part in elections and groups campaigning for democratic
reforms are banned under the Suppression
of Terrorism Act.
In April, Eugene
Dube, the Swati Newsweek editor, was
arrested, tortured by police and threatened with a charge of
treason for publishing the report.
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Ncamiso Ngcamphalala, President of the
Economic Freedom Fighters-Swaziland
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Separately, the Media
Institute of Southern Africa (Zimbabwe) has drawn attention to
two Swaziland journalists, Zweli
Martin Dlamini and Eugene Dube who fled the kingdom to South
Africa, fearing their lives were in danger.
In statement it said, ‘Dlamini, the editor of Swaziland News, had
in April written a story that King Mswati had contracted COVID-19. The police
reportedly visited his home where they allegedly harassed his family members.
‘On the other hand, Royal Police visited
Dube’s house, at least three times, seeking to interrogate him
because the authorities were upset that he was reporting about the activities
of an opposition group.
‘The police, on the other hand, claim they wanted to arrest Dube, the
editor of Swati Newsweek because he had contravened COVID-19
lockdown regulations. He was detained for nine hours on 23 April, but Dube said
the police did not question him on the alleged contravention of lockdown
regulations.’
‘We urge the eSwatini authorities to guarantee the safety of the two
journalists.’
See also
Swaziland
journalist critical of King flees, hides in forest five days
Swaziland journalist critical of absolute monarch, beaten, arrested, faces treason charge
‘No
media freedom’ in Swaziland, Reporters Without Borders annual report states
Swaziland
journalist ‘tortured by police after criticising absolute monarch in newspaper
articles’
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-journalist-tortured-by-police.html
Newspaper editor flees Swaziland for second time after arrest and police torture
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/newspaper-editor-flees-swaziland-for.htmlNewspaper editor flees Swaziland for second time after arrest and police torture
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