MATSAPHA: The two pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube who were arrested as per an order allegedly issued by King Mswati are assaulted and tortured in prison.
As a result, MP Mthandeni Dube had to consult a doctor on Tuesday,a few days after this Swaziland News reported that armed warders from the Rapid Response Unit led by Superintendent Robert Gama invaded prison cells and tortured the pro-democracy MPs.
Reached for comments regarding the alleged assault and torture of the MPs by warders, Senior Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini, the Spokesperson of the Correctional Services said she would wait for an instruction from Government before commenting on this matter.
“I will have to get permission from Government before commenting”, said the Correctional Services Spokesperson.
Sicelo Mngomezulu, the South African Correspondent Attorney representing the pro-democracy MPs confirmed that warders invaded the prison cells of the pro-democracy MPs.
The lawyer further confirmed that MP Mthandeni had to consult a doctor adding that they were waiting for a doctor’s report that would determine whether MP Dube was fit to stand trial or not.
“He'll see a doctor today and we’ll return tomorrow.The doctor must file a report or an opinion as to whether Mthandeni is fit to stand trial.Continuance of the trial is dependent on the doctor's opinion”, said the lawyer.
It has been disclosed that MP Dube was harassed by the warders after he refused to become a State witness and testify against MP Bacede Mabuza who was placed on solitary confinement.
As per an electronic evidence released by this Swaziland News, the pro-democracy MPs were arrested after an order allegedly issued by King Mswati.
The King rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers, political parties are banned from participating in elections and critics of his regime are arrested, tortured or even killed.
On or around 29th June 2021, Mswati allegedly unleashed soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.
The Human Rights Commission released a preliminary report suggesting that forty-six(46)people were killed.
But the civil society and political parties alleged that they had evidence suggesting that over one hundred(100) people were killed with over seventy(70) already identified.
Warders from the Rapid Response Unit allegedly tortured MPs.