MBABANE: A pro-democracy Correctional Services officer says they can only release incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube if the people can demonstrate willingness to see them released.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, the officer shared some information on how the MPs were escorted to court, the routes they used and the chain of Command within the Correctional Services.
He said even their superiors do not have the powers to decide the release of continued incarceration of the MPs in the event a political chaos erupts.
“We are the officers with the power to release the MPs because we always escort them to court, the King or our superiors do not have those powers because they don’t escort the MPs.However, we cannot just do that, we must first analyse the political situation and then take a risk. I would make an example, if the people can organize protests and then power shifts from the current Government to the people, we can also organize our own protest as Correctional Services officers, grab the prison keys and release the MPs to address the protestors on that same day. Lentfo lena ilula wena Nkhosi angitsi nalabantfu labakhulu bagadvwa ngitsi tsine ma-security officers,” said the Correctional Services.
Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini, the Correctional Services Spokesperson when speaking to this publication earlier, said she would have to seek permission from Government before commenting on such matters.
“I will have to seek permission from Government before commenting,” said the Correctional Services Spokesperson.
Pro-democracy MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube who were leading calls for democratic reforms in Parliament, were arrested after an order allegedly issued by King Mswati.
Reached for comments, Sicelo Mngomezulu, the lawyer representing the pro-democracy MPs said as the legal team, they understood the frustration among many people but appealed for patience as the court dealt with the matter.
“The MPs are in the process of defending themselves and demonstrating their innocence before the court. They believe that with the Judge independently applying her mind to the evidence before her and the law, she can only find that they're innocent of the charges laid against them. My clients appreciate that many Swazis are frustrated with their unlawful incarceration, but they do believe that justice will prevail,”said the lawyer.
Pro-democracy MPs being expected to court.