MBABANE: Incarcerated pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube wrote a hot letter to King Mswati over what they described as unlawful incarceration.
In the letter dated 02 December 2021, the MPs who were arrested for demanding democratic reforms on behalf of the people who elected them to Parliament stated clearly that as per an audio by the then Army Commander Jeffrey Shabalala, their arrest was commanded by the King.
The MPs stated that they raised issues in Parliament on behalf of the people who voted them to Parliament and were astonished why they were being persecuted.
“We are however astonished as to why we are being persecuted, victimized and heavily punished for doing exactly what Members of Parliament do in any democratic society. Your Majesty, Parliament Privilege cannot he ousted by any Court, mainly because it would mean Members of Parliament would not be able to freely legislate and make submissions without fear nor favor. What is more disturbing is that your office has clearly neglected the audio that circulated of former army Commander Jeffery Shabalala where he made it clear that our arrest was orchestrated by His Majesty”, reads the letter in part.
Government Deputy Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
The MPs further wrote letters to various Embassies where they reported their persecution by Mswati’s’ regime. The Embassies include South African High Commission and the European Union among others. Other letters were sent to the Law Society, Ministry of Justice, Chief Justice and the Attorney General among others.
Sicelo Mngomezulu, the South African Correspondent attorney for the pro-democracy MPs confirmed to this Swaziland News that indeed the MPs wrote the letters in their personal capacity.
Pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube who are being persecuted by Mswati.