Mario detained

MATSAPHA – Police briefly detained PUDEMO President Mario Masuku where he was questioned about his invitation to the 19th Black Wednesday Commemo-ration that was held yesterday.

PUDEMO is an acronym for the People’s United Democratic Movement, which is a banned political entity. Masuku was expected to be a panellist together with Ntombi Nkosi from the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress and Youth Forum’s Mary Da Silva during the commemoration that was held at the University of Swaziland, Kwaluseni campus.

However, following the detention at Sigodvweni Police Station that lasted for about 25 minutes, Masuku was released.
In an interview outside the police station, he narrated that he was caught at a roadblock that was mounted near the Institute of Development Management, which is situated along the UNISWA/Mfabantfu public road.

“They asked me where I was heading to. I told them that I had been invited to the university as a panellist. They then told me to drive here (police station).
“During the questioning, I was told not to set my foot at the university because the institute’s administration does not approve my participation in that panel,” he explained, while wiping his face with a handkerchief.

Earlier, Masuku said he was called by police officers from the Hhohho Regional Headquarters and told not to honour the invitation. Following the ‘detention’, Masuku said he was astonished that in an era where all world countries were respecting fundamental human rights, his freedom was infringed upon.

“Nobody knows what I’m going to say at the commemoration, but I have now been denied a chance to offer advice to the students,” he said in a calm voice. When asked about his next move from the police station, Masuku, smiling, said: “The state said I’m not invited – I will not reveal my route.”

Late during the day at the university, Masuku’s remarks were read by Maxwell Dlamini who is a member of the Swaziland National Union of Students.

Police PRO Senior Superintendent Vusi Masuku said they had to engage prevention strategies to avoid unnecessary confrontation with university authorities. He said police advised him on  the strength of a letter from the institution’s authourities.

...Black Wednesday almost cancelled

MATSAPHA – The annual Black Wedne-sday Commemoration was almost cancelled at the eleventh hour.
This was revealed by the university’s Students Representative Council President Pius Vilakati when addressing his colleagues at the Multi-Purpose Hall.

He alleged that the SRC was grilled for the whole night on Tuesday while police stood guard outside the administration block.
“Even if one wanted to leave the meeting, he was intimidated by the officers who were looming outside,” he said.
Vilakati alleged that the administration went to the extent of calling bus owners not to ferry students from the different campuses, Luyengo and Mbabane to attend the commemoration.

Vilakati said they were told that the bone of contention was the panel which was to address the students.  
The panel was made up of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku, Ngwane National Liberatory Women’s League President Ntombi Nkosi, Swaziland National Union of Students President Bheki Khumalo and Youth Forum’s Mary Da Silva.

Meanwhile, the Registrar Sipho Vilakati pointed out that the students submitted their guest list very late.
“Students know that when they want to invite speakers they should first seek permission from the Vice-Chancellor, which was not the case here. Furthermore, we got the list very late at about 3:30pm.

Incidentally, some members of the SRC we not aware of the panel,” he said.
When asked on the reason of not granting the invitation, Vilakati said the university had its own way of dealing with such issues.