‘COPS WANT TO ARREST ME’

MANZINI – SWAYOCO President Bheki Dlamini yesterday claimd he was on the police wanted list, but he is not afraid to go to jail.

SWAYOCO stands for the Swaziland Youth Congress and it is a youth wing of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).
Dlamini was speaking in an interview after the arrest of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku following alleged seditious statements he made during the Workers Day celebrations at Salesian Sports Ground yesterday. Earlier on, Mphandlana Shongwe and Wandile Dludlu were turned back and disallowed from going to Manzini to partake in the celebrations.

“I have heard that the police want to arrest me as well, but I do not know for what. I may be arrested tonight (yesterday) or tomorrow (today) morning,” Dlamini said.

Celebrations

In his address to workers gathered at the Salesian Sports ground for the Workers Day celebrations, Dlamini urged the youth to ensure that the country never lost out on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).  He urged SWAYOCO members to fight for their rights in tertiary institutions, such as being granted scholarships.
“Let us be united,” he said.

Speaking of Masuku’s arrest, Dlamini said it showed that there was no freedom of expression in the country and the constitution was not respected. He said the arrest was a sign of intimidation by government on citizens.
However, Dlamini said, Masuku had stated that he was ready to serve PUDEMO members’ interests even if he were to be arrested, as he had said when addressing the workers before he was taken by the police.

Defend

“I can defend everything I said to the workers. There was nothing criminal in my address. Even if I were to be arrested, the struggle will continue. People must know that I would not have done anything wrong. The only thing I did was to speak, which is what God created my mouth for, not just for eating,” Dlamini said.

Dlamini said he would continue to mobilise more people even when arrested.
The UNISWA Social Science graduate was in February acquitted and discharged of terrorism charges after spending close to four years behind bars.
He had been accused of petrol bombing houses belonging to politicians and police officers.

He said many people were unemployed in the country and losing out on AGOA would be catastrophic. He called upon the removal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2005 and the amendment of the Industrial Relations Act to allow for the registration of TUCOSWA.
“Swaziland must comply with workers’ rights and also address the Public Order Act so that we do not lose out on AGOA. This means that the country should democratise first,” he said.

Police Deputy PRO Assistant Superintendent Khulani mamba denied that the police had a list of people they wanted to arrest. He said those arrested were found to have committed a crime when they addressed workers.
“Dlamini seems to be guilty of something. We are not targeting anyone. He would be wanted if he said something that is a crime during the Workers Day celebrations,” Mamba said.

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