eSwatini court reserves judgement in pro-democracy MPs’ bail application
The arrested MPs were applying for bail at the Mbabane High Court on the day they were supposed to move a motion to oust King Mswati III in parliament.
RUSTENBURG, July 29 (ANA) – The Mbabane High Court in eSwatini reserved judgment on the bail application of two members of parliament (MPs) charged with terrorism, according to media report on Thursday.
Online news outlet Swaziland News, reported that Judge Mummcy Dlamini reserved judgement on the bail application of the two pro-democracy MPs in Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, to give herself time to consider arguments from both parties.
The two were arrested on Sunday, in what was believed to be politically motivated arrests to block a motion Mabuza intended to move in parliament on Thursday, seeking to remove King Mswati III from politics.
According to Swaziland News, the defence argued that the state failed to prove that the two MPs were flight risks.
This was after the state alleged in opposing bail that the two were flight risks.
Newly appointed prime minister Sipho Dlamini, denied that the arrests were politically motivated.
“We are aware that there has been talk that these members have been arrested for voicing out their political views,” Dlamini said, addressing parliament on Wednesday.
“We wish to put it on record that these allegations are unfounded and the arrests are in no way politically motivated. We trust our justice system to give them a free and fair trial.“
At least 34 people were killed during the violent protests, according to national police commissioner, William Dlamini, although activists put the figure at 70 death.
The protests in June left a trail of destruction, at least 10 Tinkhundla offices (the traditional administrative subdivisions) were torched, and shops were looted.
Former acting prime minister Themba Masuku said the damaged caused was estimated at three billion Emalangeni (about US$209,930,000).
The protest started peacefully on June 20, when youth took to the street in the industrial hub of Manzini region demanding the right to choose the prime minister as opposed to being appointed by the king.
They also wanted King Mswati III to hand over power as the absolute monarch and allow democracy to prevail in eSwatini.
The protests turned violent on June 28, when buildings were torched and shops looted in Matsapha. It was believed the torched businesses were owned or linked to King Mswati III.
This was after Masuku, suspended the delivery of petitions to Tinkhundla, citing regulations on Covid-19 preventive measures.
The Communist Party of Swaziland said the police beat up and shot some protesters who marched to the Mbabane High Court calling for the release of the the two MPs and that close to 700 people were arrested since May.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay
