One of the 16 accused of a spate of petrol bombings in Swaziland has pleaded guilty to charges of high treason. He has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with the option of a R10 000 fine.
Mduduzi Dlamini admitted to bombing the Sandleni constituency centre last August. He testified that outlawed political party the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) had, early last year, resolved to bomb government buildings.
Pudemo leader Mario Masuku has denied this claim. ”They want him to be a state witness,” he said. Masuku found it strange that Dlamini was convicted while his co-accused have yet to appear in court. Bail hearings for the suspects have been set for February 10.
Swazi government spokesperson Percy Simelane defended Dlamini’s sentence for high treason, a crime that carries the death sentence, on the basis that he had been cooperative.
Pudemo has accused the government of using the petrol bombings as an excuse to crack down on pro-democracy groups.
Petrol bombings of government targets continued over the weekend. Two flats belonging to police officers at a police housing development in Mbabane were bombed. Two weeks ago, two Swazi high schools, including the Swazi National High School, whose alumni include some of King Mswati’s brothers, were bombed.