COPS ARREST SRC, PUDEMO PRESIDENTS
MANZINI – PUDEMO President Mario Masuku and UNISWA SRC president Maxwell Dlamini were arrested by the police yesterday. Masuku was arrested for allegedly uttering seditious statements, while Dlamini had not been charged by last night.
PUDEMO stands for People’s United Democratic Movement and UNISWA is an acronym for the University of Swaziland.
The PUDEMO president was arrested when approaching the tar road near Bosco Skills Centre as he exited the Salesian Sports Ground after making a speech at the May Day celebrations.
He was aboard a red Toyota Tazz in which he was seated at the back in the company of two men.
Masuku, who is alleged to have sparked disorder and made seditious statements, was taken to the Manzini Police Regional Headquarters where he was questioned and detained. He is currently kept at the Manzini Police Station pending his appearance at the magistrates’ Court today.
On the other hand, UNISWA SRC President Dlamini was also arrested by the police. However at the time of compiling this report, he still had not been charged.
Police Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) Assistant Superintendent Khulani Mamba confirmed the arrests and said the suspects would appear at the magistrates court.
Meanwhile, PUDEMO’s Second Deputy Secretary General, Mphandlana Shongwe and Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) Coordinator Wandile Dludlu were turned back by police officers and ordered not to set foot in town.
Shongwe was stopped by the police at Moneni where there was a roadblock and ordered to return home.
The activist was further informed not to go through town as he would be arrested.
“Batsi ngingacali ngingene edolobheni ngitobona sa Sipho Jele-loosely translated, they told me I would experience what Sipho Jele experienced if I defied their orders,” Shongwe alleged.
However, Shongwe was spotted later at the Salesian Sports Ground where the celebrations were held.
A team of about 20 police officers saw him and quickly escorted him back to town where he was further warned not to attend the celebrations.
Dludlu was stopped by the police near Bhunu Mall while driving his vehicle. Information gathered is that police officers from the Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi) gave him an order that the Regional Commander wanted to have a word with him.
“When I told them I did not have anything to say to the Regional Commander, they decided to use violence.
“They grabbed me and drove with me to Mbabane in a white Isuzu double-cab, where they dropped me off at my parental home in Msunduza,” Dludlu claimed.
He further alleged the police officers warned him not to go to Manzini. At the time he was interviewed, Dludlu confirmed he had been at his parental place from when he had been dropped off by the officers.
Comments (5 posted):
POLICE MUST STOP THIS THING OF ARRESTING PEOPLE FOR NO REASONS. THEIR DUTY IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE NOT TO HARRAS. IF THEY CONTINUE TO BEHAIVE LIKE THIS BATOKUBONA LOKWABONWA YINJA ESINYAMENI.