The treason case of 16 opposition activists who allegedly fire-bombed government offices in Swaziland was postponed on Tuesday because the accused were not taken to court to attend the hearing.
The 16 members of the banned opposition People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), who want an end to Africa’s last absolute monarchy, were expected to apply for bail but their lawyers asked for a postponement because the group was left behind bars during the court hearing.
”Our clients would like to be present in person when their bail application appears before this court. They believe it is their right to be present before this court,” lawyer Lucas Maziya told the Mbabane High Court.
Acting Chief Justice Jacobus Annandale agreed, postponing the case until Friday to set a date for a bail hearing.
”I fully agree with advocate Maziya that the applicants will have to be present before court and that is part of a fair trial,” Annandale said.
The 16 members are being held at police stations in different parts of the small mountainous country wedged between South Africa and Mozambique.
Three people were slightly injured when 14 government offices and houses belonging to friends of the king were fire-bombed between August and December last year.
The banned opposition wants an end to King Mswati III’s autocratic rule who lives luxuriously alongside his 13 wives while most of the population struggles with abject poverty, food shortages and record-high HIV/Aids rates. – Sapa-AFP