Times Of Swaziland: I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED 35 TIMES – MPHANDLANA

I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED 35 TIMES – MPHANDLANA
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Thokozani Mazibuko on 10/06/2023 07:22:00


MBABANE – Political activist Peter Mphandlana Shongwe has revealed the number
of times he has been arrested by the police.
Shongwe, a senior member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO),
is popularly known  as victim. He said he had already been incarcerated 35 times
for political crimes. Speaking during the Commemoration of Human Rights
Defenders in Eswatini, he said he had never been found guilty in all the
charges. The event, organised by the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC),
was held at Hilton Hotel yesterday.
During the event, the SALC honoured deceased political activists like Mario
Masuku, Mandla Mkhwanazi, Thulani Rudolph Maseko, Advocate Rudolph Jenson and
Leo Gama.
The SALC is a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa, which
supports human rights lawyers in Southern African countries with expert legal
advice, technical support and funding. SALC was founded by Nicole Fritz and she
served as director for 10 years. Shongwe took the participants down memory lane
where he recalled how he was arrested by the Royal Eswatini Police Service
(REPS) in more than 35 instances.
He applauded the late attorney, Leo Gama, for representing in courts with aplomb
and professionalism, showing vigour and determination in ensuring and upholding
of his fundamental human rights.
Lawyers
“I would like to applaud one of the greatest lawyers, Leo Gama. I never paid a
cent to him. This time allows me to remember Leo Gama’s good deeds towards the
struggle. I have been in and out of prison for more than 35 times and as we are
speaking now, I am currently out on bail,” lamented the political activist.
Shongwe revealed that he had been reporting every last Friday of the month. He
challenged lawyers to represent clients charged with crimes smacking of
political connotations.
He made an example of the late Gama, who frequently visited his incarcerated
clients. “I am challenging lawyers to take up some of these cases in this
country as we are released partially and actually we are still in jail,”
Shongwe said. He added: “I understand how the lawyers are feeling towards the
case of the ‘commander’ (referring to self-styled commander of the
underground forces, Thabo Kunene). I must say I know it is very challenging and
difficult to represent the members of the mass democratic movement (MDM) in
these trying times.”
Further, Shongwe said that he didn’t remember a single day when he had to pay
a fee to the late Gama, despite the fact that he represented him in almost all
the charges preferred against him. “I am not saying that we shouldn’t pay
lawyers,; they also need money,” he said. Shongwe applauded organisations like
SALC that had always been there for the struggle for liberation. He advised
practising lawyers to join the call for political transformation in the country.
He pitied the situation in which a person charged with a political crime would
not be represented because lawyers were afraid.