MBABANE: Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in consultation with His Majesty’s Correctional Services, have the authority to recommend inmates who deserve to be pardoned by the King during the upcoming Independence and King’s double Birthday Celebrations.
This was disclosed by King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane when responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News on Sunday, he was asked if incarcerated Members of Parliament(MPs)Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube would be pardoned and released by the King on Independence Day.
King Mswati, when speaking during the Correctional Services Day, urged the eSwatini Department of Correctional Services to prepare for the possible release of some prisoners as part of the fifty-five(55th) Independence and his Birthday double Celebration.
“Normally, it is inmates who have already served part of their jail sentences and not those who are still waiting to be sentenced.The discretion rests with the Justice Ministry through it’s Corectional Services Administration.While there is already a conviction in the case of Mr Bacede Mabuza and Mr Mthandeni Dube,we have no reasons to suggest they qualify for parole because they have not started serving time and their sentences have not been handed down yet,”said the King’s Spokesperson.
Efforts to reach Justice Minister Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Incarcerated pro-democracy MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were arrested for demanding democracy inside Parliament, international human rights organizations and eSwatini pro-democracy groups are demanding their release.
Justice Minister Pholile Shakantu.