SWAZI ACTIVIST FORGOTTEN IN JAIL

Zonke needs help to appeal unfair 15-year sentence

Kenworthy News Media, 28 February 2017 

SOURCE

Where is the campaign and help for the appeal of Swazi activist Zonke Dlamini, who was tortured and sentenced to 15 years under repressive terror laws three years ago, asks his co-accused, Bheki Dlamini, who was released without charge? Writes Kenworthy News Media.

 

Activist Zonke Dlamini was sentenced to 15 years in prison three years ago, on 28 February 2014, for allegedly petrol bombing the houses of two Swazi officials, an MP and a high-ranking police officer.

He denies the charges and says he was tortured during his interrogation, but his case has been more or less forgotten and he has subsequently not been able to appeal his sentence, says his co-accused, Swaziland Youth Congress President Bheki Dlamini.

In the 28 July 2010 edition of the Swazi Observer, Zonke Dlamini said he was interrogated and tortured by 18 officers upon arrest. “I declared my innocence but was punched in the face … and told to admit my role as one of the operatives of an operation mastermind by the banned SWAYOCO to bomb houses of prominent people.”

Charged under ‘inherently repressive’ terror act
Both Zonke Dlamini, who is also a member of SWAYOCO, and Bheki Dlamini, were charged under Swaziland’s Suppression of Terrorism Act. Both dissociated themselves from the petrol bombings.

Zonke was found guilty on two of the three counts of petrol bombing while Bheki was acquitted and released, in what the judge referred to as “evil” and “indefensible acts” of “terrorism” that “threatened national security” and “peace and stability” in Swaziland, including “its tourism and economy generally.”

The sentences “will send out a message to others,” the judge concluded.

Amnesty International has called Swaziland’s Suppression of Terrorism Act, which defines terrorism in sweeping terms, an “inherently repressive” act that is “used to suppress dissent.”

Amnesty furthermore wrote in their 2011 Annual Report that the court was informed that Zonke and Bheki had been “subjected to suffocation torture” and that Zonke’s confession (that led to the arrest of Bheki Dlamini) was allegedly “extracted under duress.”

A humble and dedicated man
According to Bheki Dlamini, Zonke Dlamini is a politically astute and humble man who never complained about his fate and who is dedicated to the struggle for freedom and democracy is Swaziland. He got to know Zonke when at court and by them smuggling letters to each other’s cells.

When Zonke Dlamini was arrested, he left a three-month-old baby and an extended family that he was economically responsible for. He is also an epileptic who needs constant supervision.

– My heart is bleeding when I remember the pain of prison and what Zonke is still going through. When Zonke was arrested, he was badly tortured by the Swazi police. Now he suffers from a persistent headache because of the torture, says Bheki Dlamini, who was himself tortured after his and Zonke Dlaminis arrest in June 2010.

Both went on a hunger strike in 2013 to protest against the prison conditions and the fact that their case was yet to be concluded three years after they were arrested.

Desperately needs appeal, help
But while there was a campaign for the release of Bheki Dlamini, who was eventually released, after having spent nearly four years in prison, and his story was told in an award-winning Danish documentary, Swaziland – Africa’s last monarchy, Zonke Dlaminis case does not get the attention it deserves, Bheki Dlamini says.

– The tragedy about Zonke’s case is that it doesn’t get the necessary attention, be it amongst the Swazi Civil Society, the political parties and the Swazi media. When the EU called for the release of political prisoners, Zonke’s name was missing from the list of four political prisoners that were eventually released, says Bheki Dlamini.

Bheki Dlamini believes that while Zonke Dlamini faced injustice by the Swazi High Court, few came to his rescue. This should have been the role of Swaziland’s civil society and members of the international community, but their inaction has had serious consequences for Zonke, he says.

– As Zonke was convicted in 2014, he was not able to file an appeal because he has no lawyer to take up his case. Where are the NGO’s claiming to be fighting for human rights, where are Lawyers for Human Rights, where is our conscience as a people when we watch such gross injustice happening to someone who is trying to fight the very same regime we claim to be against?

– He desperately needs to appeal his conviction and sentencing. I have been part of the trial and know that he has a high chance of an acquittal because he was sentenced unfairly. There is no direct evidence linking him to the crimes he is accused of. He was made a sacrificial lamb by the judge, who decided to acquit me and convict Zonke to appease the powers that be, Bheki Dlamini says.

FREE SWAZI POLITICAL PRISONERS

Communist Party Swaziland

Statement

7 August 2011

THE BREAK CHAINS

Campaign for the release of all political prisoners and detainees in Swaziland

Release all political prisoners in Swaziland now!

The Tinkhundla regime of king Mswati III currently holds five political prisoners/detainees. These courageous freedom fighters are imprisoned by the regime simply because they have been part of the struggle for democracy, human rights and social and economic progress for the people of Swaziland. We demand their unconditional release and that this is a step toward the unbanning of all political parties and organisations and safe return of all exiles.

BREAK THE CHAINS demands the release of:

1. Amos Mbedze - A South African, member of the ANC, SACP, Umkhonto Wesizwe) arrested in 2008, denied bail; still on trial since 2010.

2. Bheki Dlamini - SWAYOCO PRESIDENT: arrested in 2010, denied bail, no trial.

3. Zonke Dlamini - SWAYOCO LEADER: arrested in 2010; denied bail, no trial since arrested.

4. Maxwell Dlamini - SNUS PRESIDENT: arrested in 2011; denied bail, no trial since arrest.

5. Musa Ngubeni – FORMER STUDENT LEADER: arrested in April 2011, denied bailed, no trial since arrest.

These activists and leaders have been routinely tortured and denied access to family and friends. Their health is deteriorating each day and they are denied proper medical assistance. They are held on trumped up charges because the regime considers their activism for democracy and freedom a danger to Mswati’s rule. The rule of law protects only the select few in Swaziland. Our comrades held prisoner by the regime have no rights.

The BREAK THE CHAINS campaign calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Swaziland and for concerted action to prevent the incarceration of more detainees as the struggle for democracy and freedom increases.

The Swazi regime denies that it has political prisoners. It also denies that there are Swazi political exiles living outside the country. The regime lies continuously and blatantly in an effort to appear reasonable and fair. But the regime presides over the constant oppression of the Swazi people though enforced poverty and degradation and the denial of democratic, social and economic rights. Those who have campaigned against this vile injustice are persecuted by the Mswati regime.

BREAK THE CHAINS calls on all progressive organisations and individuals in Swaziland and beyond to add their voice to the demand the release of Swaziland’s political prisoners.

This must be a first step to the unbanning of all organizations and parties in Swaziland and firm guarantees on the right of the people to free assembly, and the guaranteed safe return of exiles.

Support BREAK THE CHAINS

We urge you to:

Send demands to the Swazi government and the king calling for the immediate release of Amos Mbedze, Bheki Dlamini, Zonke Dlamini, Maxwell Dlamini and Musa Ngubeni.

Raise awareness on the issue of Swaziland’s political prisoners by spreading news of the campaign for their release.

Raise the issue in your community, trade union branch, Church group, and among your neighbours and friends.

If you are outside Swaziland:

Issue calls to Swazi diplomatic missions for the release of political prisoners.

Demand the boycott of Swaziland by the government of the country in which you reside until all political prisoners are released.

Get your organisation / political party to join the campaign

The BREAK THE CHAINS campaign is being run by the Communist Party of Swaziland as an open campaign forum that all organisations and individuals are invited to join regardless of their political affiliation.

See also

MAXWELL DLAMINI ‘SUFFERS STROKE’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/07/maxwell-dlamini-suffers-stroke.html

PICKET AGAINST SWAZI DETENTIONS

Statement from the Swaziland Democracy Campaign

13 May 2011

SOURCE

SDC Picket Protests Detentions and Puts Swazi Consul on the Spot! Actions Speak Louder than Words

On May 12^th representatives of fifteen organisations gathered outside the Swazi Consular Office in Braamfontein Johannesburg to protest a number of burning issues face to face with Mr Magongo and Mr Tsabedze, the Consul and Deputy Consul respectively.

Three issues were raised directly with the representative of the Swazi Government. Firstly the chronic over-reaction of the Swazi Regime to the protests that took place in April, and in particular the unnecessary and brutal repression that was unleashed against legitimate peaceful protesters. The fact that the ILO and other world organisations have condemned the Swazi regime for their repressive actions has been further compounded by the behaviour of the Government in April. This has not served to undermine the democracy movement, but has strengthened the resolve of all those who want to see a democratic Swaziland.

Secondly, the illegal detention of young and courageous activists Comrades Maxwell Dlamini and Musa Ngubeni who were arrested during the April protests and who are being held on the flimsiest of evidence and denied bail. They face trumped up charges under the notorious Suppression of Terrorism Act, legislation that can only be described as draconian. Notice was also given of the detentions of other comrades in similar circumstances, namely Comrades Bheki and Zonke Dlamini. The SDC demanded the immediate dropping of all charges and the release of all those comrades detained.

Thirdly, that even though the Swazi Government had announced that they could not pay the May salaries of public sector workers they were still prepared to squander millions on sending a delegation of 50 to the UK Royal Wedding, and a delegation of 30 to a recent SACU meeting when most other governments sent three or four people. This underlies the absence of any rational prioritisation in economic matters, and has exposed the culture of wastage and personal wealth accumulation that typifies the regime.

Speakers from the African Diaspora, Global Zimbabwe Forum, PUDEMO , and COSATU also made similar and powerful points before the Consul replied that he would report these issues back to his superiors. Finally the Consul was informed that there would be very many more protests of this type and that the democracy movement was growing and that there would be no respite until Swaziland was a democracy.

We would like to thank all of those organisations who came and participated in the picket. Putting our words into practice and mobilising for democracy in Swaziland is one of the best ways that we can support our comrades in Swaziland. Passing resolutions, issuing press statements, circulating material on blogs and forums is all very well and important, but being prepared to actually do something speaks volumes. We urge all those who want to put their words into action to contact SDC for more information on future planned activities.

SWAZI SOLIDARITY PICKET RESUMES

The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] is to restart its regular protest picket outside the Swaziland Consulate in Braampark, Braamfontein, Johannesburg , South Africa.

The pickets take place on the first and last Fridays of each month. The first of the new series is on 21 January 2011. The picket starts at 13.00 hrs.

In a statement the SSN said the pickets were in support of the incarcerated terrorism suspects Swaziland Youth Conrgress (SWAYOCO) President Bheki Dlamini, Zonke Dlamini and Amos Mbendzi.

SSN said, ‘We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all three comrades because they are political prisoners who cannot have a free and fair trial under the prevailing system of governance in Swaziland.

‘These pickets are a continuation of those demanding the release of Amos Mbendzi and Mario Masuku from 2008 to 2009. To this day we insist that the release of Masuku was a result of political pressure rather than a mere judicial one.’

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION DETAILS

A draft programme of action has been drawn up for the Global Day of Action for Swaziland democracy.

It includes boycotting the cell phone company MTN in protest at the exorbitant tariffs it charges because of its monopoly position.

The Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), which released details of the programme, said MTN was ‘also notorious for violating customer information/records confidentiality and allowing police to intercept private calls'.

Twenty civil society groups came together to draw up the final programme for the action which takes place from 6 – 8 September 2010.

A number of issues will be highlighted, including provision of pensions, income tax for the low paid, the policy on student scholarships, the Public Service Bill and the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

There will be two separate protest marches, one in Manzini and the other in Mbabane. The march in Mbabane will stop to deliver petitions ‘to such overtly pro-state (uncritical) public institutions as the Swazi Observer Group of newspapers and the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service (SBIS)'.

A separate petition will be delivered to the Minister of Justice calling for a speedy trial of incarcerated Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) members Bheki Dlamini and Zonke Dlamini who were recently denied bail on charges of throwing bottles of petrol.

SDC also says delegations of support were also expected from the United Kingdom, Germany, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Ghana and Australia.