Times Of Swaziland: COPS ARREST SRC,  PUDEMO PRESIDENTS

COPS ARREST SRC,  PUDEMO PRESIDENTS
================================================================================
 BY JABULISA DLAMINI on 02/05/2014 05:14:00


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.