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Wednesday 22 July 2015

PUDEMO LEADER DEFIES BAIL CONDITION

Mario Masuku, President of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), has defied a condition of his bail and addressed a public gathering.

Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini, Secretary-General of the PUDEMO youth wing, SWAYOCO, were released on bail on 14 July 2015 after serving 14 months on remand on sedition charges.

One of the conditions of their bail was that they did not address public gatherings. They had been arrested in May 2014 for allegedly making public statements in support of PUDEMO.

Masuku spoke at a special service at the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in his home area, Makhosini.

He gave an account of life in prison.

The Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, reported, ‘When he took to the pulpit, the congregants were filled with joy as both young and old welcomed him with applause.’

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom reported, Masuku ‘told the congregants that he would not compromise his values and ideologies in fear of being punished’.

PUDEMO is one of a number of prodemocracy organisations in Swaziland banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. In Swaziland political parties are banned from taking part in elections and the King chooses the government and top judges.

See also

RELEASE OF LEADERS ‘CHANGES NOTHING’
DEMOCRACY LEADERS FREED ON BAIL

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