A police officer’s flat was firebombed in Swaziland in the first such incident since the release on bail of 16 opposition members accused of staging a string of arson attacks, an official said on Tuesday.
The attack on Monday targeted an apartment in eastern Swaziland, about 200km from the capital, Mbabane, police spokesperson Vusi Masuku said.
”We are currently working around the clock to ensure that we bring these culprits to book, and as members of the Royal Swaziland Police we would like to condemn such acts of terrorism,” Masuku said.
The attack is the first since 16 opposition members accused of carrying out a string of firebombings in the Southern African kingdom were released on bail on March 10 after the state failed to make a convincing case.
All of them are members of the banned opposition People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), which wants an end to the autocratic rule of King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Mswati, who ascended to the throne nearly 20 years ago, lives in luxury with 13 wives while most of the population struggles with abject poverty, food shortages and a high rate of HIV/Aids.
The Pudemo members had to pay bail of about R5 000 each and have to report to police once a week. They have had to hand over their passports to authorities.
Arrested during sweeps in December and January, the men are accused of high treason and could face the death penalty for allegedly carrying out a series of firebombings on government offices and the residences of senior state employees since October.
Two schools and homes at a police camp have also been targeted in arson attacks since January in the small mountainous country wedged between South Africa and Mozambique.
No trial date has been set in the case. — Sapa-AFP