Musa Dube, deputy general secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland, has been remanded in custody on sedition charges for allegedly distributing leaflets calling for a boycott of the kingdom’s election. He is charged with two counts of possessing and distributing leaflets published by the CPS at Kakhoza in Manzini. He appeared in Manzini Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded to Zakhele Remand Centre and is due to reappear on 25 September 2013, pending committal to the High Court. An application for bail is expected to be lodged.
National elections take place in Swaziland, which is ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, on Friday 20 September. All political parties are banned from taking part.
Prodemocracy organisations have accused the Swazi state of intimidating Dube and others who are calling for democracy in Swaziland.
Full Article: allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Anger At Pre-Election Arrest.
