MBABANE: Michael Tsabedze, a lawyer who was part of the incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) legal team allegedly worked as a spy for Mswati’s regime.
Documentary evidence in our possession suggests that Tsabedze who was serving articles under TR Maseko Attorneys was allegedly offered a job by the State at the Attorney General’s(AG) office as a token of appreciation for spying on the pro-democracy MPs.
On or around 17th January 2022, the lawyer allegedly recorded MP Bacede Mabuza during a consultation at Matsapha Maximum Prison, he subsequently leaked the audio to investigators and State journalists.
It has been disclosed that MP Bacede Mabuza was allegedly not aware that he was being recorded by the lawyer.
Reached for comments, lawyer Michael Tsabedze confirmed that he was secretly working for the Attorney General’s Office while representing the pro-democracy MPs, but denied ever sharing secrets of the MPs with the State.
When asked why he recorded MP Bacede without his permission during a consultation, the lawyer said he wanted to refer to the recording while preparing some documents for the MP’s case.
“It’s true that I am working for the AGs office, I wanted to sign a contract first with Government before withdrawing my services as a lawyer for the MPs.I want to assure you Nkhosi that I never shared private information about the MPs with the State.Even the recording you are asking me about, it’s true that I recorded MP Bacede during a consultation, however, I did that specifically to refer to the recording while preparing some documents. Bacede did question me and asked why I recorded him without his permission and I gave him the same explanation. He warned me not to record him again without his permission”, said the lawyer.
But an independent investigation by this Swaziland News uncovered that as part of the alleged spying, the lawyer was ‘hiding’ some of the MP’s files at the Attorney General’s office.
When questioned by this publication about MP Bacede’s files allegedly found at the AGs office, lawyer Michael Tsabedze said the files were kept there after he secured employment with the State, he consistently maintained that he never shared the MPs’ information with anyone.
Evidence in our possession discloses that even though the politically motivated MPs’ criminal case was handled by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP), Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo was the ‘mastermind’ in ensuring that they were kept behind bars.
As a result, the office of the DPP allegedly works closely with Khumalo in prosecuting the pro-democracy MPs.
An insider within the AGs office told this publication that the State was aware that the MPs might win the case due to lack of evidence, however, the purpose of spying was to gather more information and Bacede’s secrets that might incriminate him in another case.
“The plan here is to gather information that might be used in arresting Bacede again shortly after being released.They want him convicted in another criminal case so that he cannot stand for elections. So this lawyer was spying on him, he even tried to establish friendship with Bacede’s staff to get more information”, said the insider within the AG’s office.
Questions were sent to Sifiso Khumalo, the Attorney General, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Speaking to this publication,Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko said he was shocked to learn that the lawyer who was under training in his office was also working with the AGs office.
“He was still under training, serving articles under my office and I wasn’t aware that he was working for the Attorney General’s office.I was then informed that he works with the AGs office on Wednesday”, said the Human Rights Lawyer.
It has been disclosed that the State planted the lawyer and other State controlled journalists to spy on the MPs and other pro-democracy leaders, like Tsabedze, some of the journalists who spied for the regime were rewarded with jobs in government.
Reached for comments, lawyer Sicelo Mngomezulu, the South African Correspondent Attorney representing the pro-democracy MPs confirmed the matter but declined to give further details.
“We are aware of the issue you're raising with me, regrettably I cannot comment further for now, save to say that we condemn any form of unethical conduct in the legal profession, let alone infiltration, as it seems to have happened in this case.We're disgusted. Thankfully, the solid defense that our Clients have against their charges has not been adversely impacted by the nefarious actions of the gentleman you're referring to”, said the South African Correspondent Attorney representing the pro-democracy MPs.
The pro-democracy MPs were arrested after an order allegedly issued by King Mswati merely for demanding democratic reforms on behalf of the people who elected them, they are facing politically motivated terrorism charges.
Lawyer Michael Tsabedze.