SALC and LHR present a seminar on “Protecting the Freedom of Expression and Association & the Rule of Law in Swaziland”

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Lawyers for Human Rights are hosting a seminar on the deterioration of the Rule of Law and Freedom of Expression in Swaziland.

Date: 30th April
Venue: Constitutional Court Auditorium
Time: to be seated at 9h45 for 10h00- 12h00

Programme
9h45  Arrival and seating
10h00   Welcome and introduction: Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, Executive Director, SALC
10h10   Presentations:  
Mzwandile Masuku
Mary Rayner, Amnesty International
Muzi Masuku from OSISA (not confirmed)
Southern African Liaison Office representative (tba)
11h45   Closing address:
Jacob van Garderen, National Director, Lawyers for Human Rights

The seminar will provide a perspective on the situation of Mario Masukhu and Maxwell Dlamini within the context of the political crisis in Swaziland:  Mario Masuku is the president of the political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), while Maxwell Dlamini is the Secretary General of the party’s youth wing, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO).  The charges against Masuku and Dlamini relate to the speeches criticising the government and the judiciary, as well as the chanting of the slogans, “viva PUDEMO viva” and “phansi ngetinkhundla phansi (down with tinkhundla down)”. The State used the broad definitions in the Terrorism and Sedition Acts to attribute terrorist intent to the slogans chanted during this rally. This seminar will discuss the situation in Swaziland within the context of the arrests of Masuku and Dlamini who on 1 May 2015 will be detained for a year awaiting trial on terrorism charges. They appear in the Swazi Supreme Court on the 5th May to appeal the state’s refusal to grant bail.