Swaziland’s Chief Justice announced on Thursday that the High Court would continue hearing the case of the alleged abduction of an 18-year-old Swazi schoolgirl by messengers of King Mswati two weeks ago, despite threats from the Royal Palace.
Justice Stanley Sapire told the court that he and his colleagues had been visited at the High Court by Swaziland’s attorney-general accompanied by the three heads of the security forces.
The visitors issued the judges with an instruction — reportedly from the Royal Palace — to drop the case forthwith or resign from their positions.
Sapire said the justices had discussed the issue among themselves at length and they had decided that, in the light of their oath of office and their responsibilities in the name of justice, that they would pursue with the case and defy the order.
The packed courtroom erupted into loud applause when the chief justice made these remarks. The case has been brought by Zena Mhlangu’s mother who is demanding her daughter’s release.
According to reports from the palace and local newspapers, the girl was abducted in order to prepare her for marriage to the 34-year-old monarch without her mother’s permission.
Last week, the Chief Justice Stanley Sapire presiding over the court along with two other judges issued an order for the girl to be brought to court in order that her views may be heard.
The two lawyers assigned to speak to the girl at the Manzana Royal Guest House at Lobamba where she is staying under guard, reported last Monday that they had been refused access to the girl.
The judges again ordered the lawyers to renew their attempt to interview the girl but on Thursday the chief justice announced once again they had been refused entry to the guest house.
Sapire then said that in view of the new development and the inability of the two lawyers to gain access to the girl he would again issue the order for the interview to take place.
He then postponed the case to next Tuesday. – Sapa