Press release: LHR disappointed by guilty verdict in case of Thulani Maseko and Bhekithemba Makhubu

Lawyers for Human Rights is disappointed by the ruling of the Mbabane High Court in Swaziland that has found prominent Swazi human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and editor-in-chief of The Nation magazine, Bhekithemba Makhubu guilty of contempt of court.

The judgment marks a worrying development in the right to freedom of speech of journalists and activists. Sentencing in the case has also been postponed indefinitely, leaving the men in limbo.

Given the progression of the trial, the verdict is, unfortunately, not surprising. Swaziland continues to witness a growing number of human rights violations, including ongoing trials of a similar nature. Another concerning trend is the clamping down on those who speak out against injustices and abuses of state institutions.

Maseko and Makhubu have been detained since March.

They were arrested after The Nation published two articles written by Maseko in February and March this year, in which he raised concerns about judicial independence and integrity in Swaziland. They have both been charged with contempt of court.
The article criticised the conduct of Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi in another legal matter. Justice Ramodibedi is also involved in impeachment proceedings relating to allegations of abuse of office in Lesotho.

This situation reflects an ongoing trend of violating the rights of those who defend human rights in our region. The sheer number of regional and international monitors of the case demonstrates how seriously the world takes these types of charges against human rights defenders and journalists in Swaziland.