24 Jun 11 | Index Index, minipost
Swazi journalist Mancoba Nxumalo was held by police on Wednesday (22 June) and accused of “tarnishing” the Kingdom’s image, he has claimed. The journalist believes he was targeted for arranging interviews for South African broadcaster SABC with two Swazi activists jailed over pro-democracy protests in April. He said that police told him he had “conspired with the SABC to tarnish the county’s image”.
16 Mar 11 | Index Index, minipost
The daily live transmission of the BBC Focus on Africa programme has been suspended following a report that was critical of the government. The programme, which is broadcast on the state radio, Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS), has been off air for a week. The government has also banned all state media from reporting on protests and strikes currently taking place in the country.
24 May 10 | Index Index, minipost
The leader of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), an opposition party, has been arrested and charged with terrorism offences following the funeral of party member Sipho Jele. Mario Masuku was arrested after giving a eulogy that mentioned PUDEMO by name, an offence under Swaziland’s Suppression of Terrorism Act. Jele’s funeral had previously been postponed following a police raid. His suspicious death in police custody after being arrested for wearing a T-shirt bearing an opposition logo sparked protests.
18 May 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
The funeral of an anti-government activist who died in police custody has been postponed following the intervention of Swaziland’s security forces. Sipho Jele, who was found hanged in his jail cell on May 4, was a member of the proscribed People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), he was originally arrested for wearing a t-shirt with the group’s logo. Jele’s funeral vigil was broken up by police officers, who removed a PUDEMO flag from Jele’s coffin, ordered the removal of banners supporting the organisation, and destroyed photographs of the deceased, before surrounding the coffin and refusing to leave. Jele’s family was forced to postpone the burial.
