FARMER ARRESTED FOR CONTEMPT AGAINST KING

MBABANE –A sugar cane farmer has been arrested for allegedly making comments which were viewed as contempt against His Majesty King Mswati III.

Allen Nkululeko Mango (48) of Manzini under Chief Malunge is alleged to have made the comments near the offices of Vuvulane Town Board. The meeting where Mango is alleged to have made the comments was between the farmers and senior government officials.

He has since been charged for allegedly contravening the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act No. 46 of 1938.
“The said accused wrongfully and unlawfully made comments which brought hatred or contempt against the King of Swaziland, King Mswati III so that he can be hated by his subjects at Vuvulane,” reads part of the charge sheet.

The meeting, it has been alleged, was held on February 5, 2013 but Mango was only arrested on Friday.

Filed

He has since filed an application at the High Court where he now wants to be admitted to bail. The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is represented by Ncamsile Masuku, is however, opposing the application.
Mango is represented by Siteki-based lawyer Kush Vilakati.
 In the bail application Mango stated that on September 14, 2013 he got a message that police officers from Tshaneni Police Station wanted to see him.
He submitted that he duly reported at the police station where upon arrival he met a police officer by the name of Mfanasibili Dlamini and others. Mango submitted that the police officers then told him that he had been charged for contravening Section 4(b) as read with Section 3(1) of the Seditious and Subversive Activities Act of 1938.

“I have a valid defence to the said charge in that I never committed any act nor said anything that could be construed to mean I ever brought hatred or contempt against my king, King Mswati III on the alleged day or any other day,” he said.
Mango further stated that he intended to plead not guilty to the charge.

In the bail application he submitted that he resides at Vuvulane with a minor child and the mother is schooling in Nelspruit.

State

“I humbly state that I am not a flight risk. My whole life is centred around Vuvulane where I have all of my property that includes three motor vehicles, a tractor and all my household items. I believe in my innocence and would very much want to be put to trial where I believe I will be exonerated,” he stated.
Mango’s application will be heard next week Tuesday.

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