Thulani Maseko wants out of jail

MBABANE - The Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) has instructed human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko to apply for bail.

Maseko received this directive early this week and yesterday his office complied and filed an urgent application for bail at the High Court through lawyer Mandla Mkhwanazi.

The matter is expected to be heard today at the High Court at 9.30 am
Chairperson of the SUDF Barnes Dlamini said they had a meeting with different organisations to which Maseko was a member of and agreed that it was not in the best interest of the democratic forces that he remained incarcerated hence the decision that he applies for bail.

“Our struggle for democritisation is conducted along sufficient consensus which represents the views of the majority.
Of course, there are other considerations that were taken into account, but this suffices for public information.
Maseko’s position must not be confused with Mario Masuku’s because different factors apply,” reads Dlamini’s statement sent to this newspaper.

He said the charges and arrests were not about Maseko per se, as they affected a whole lot of other people. He said these charges were about freedom of the people of Swaziland and that it was imperative that a consensus decision be taken.

He said the reason they delayed filing the bail application was occasioned by the fact they needed to have wide consultations with stakeholders.
“Maseko is not only a human rights lawyer and defender, he is a loyal and dedicated member of the National Democratic Movement which includes not only the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), but the broader civil society movement.

Accordingly, it has been the consensus decision of the mass democratic movement that it is not in the best interest of the democratic forces that Maseko remains in incarceration, hence the bail application to be field soon,” reads Dlamini’s statement in part.
Mzwandile Masuku, his protégé, confirmed that they had complied with the SUDF directive and yesterday filed their bail papers.
“Yes we received the directive and we duly complied after consulting with Maseko behind bars,” Masuku said.