On 10 August 2010 a youth activist was arrested and detained for reading and making photo copies of an article in a South African newspaper as the Swazi government tries to put a lid on raging sex scandal rocking the Royal Family in which a Cabinet Minister was caught red-handed having sex with one of the 13 wives of King Mswati III. The Minister, Ndumiso Mamba, a close ally of King Mswati, has since been forced to resign as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Sibusiso Mhlanga, a member of the banned Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), was arrested in Manzini as he tried to make copies of the article which appeared at weekend in City Press newspaper.
The local Times of Swaziland newspaper reported that Mhlanga was arrested and interrogated at the Manzini police station. His house was also raided for the original City Press article which Mhlanga claimed he found in a dustbin. However, the police raid returned empty-handed as they could not find the newspaper in Mhlangas home.
Police said Mhlanga was charged with violating the copyright law. But observers have dismissed the charges saying Mhlangas arrest had nothing to do with the copyright law but everything to do with its content.
The article Mhlanga was arrested for detailed the arrest and subsequent resignation of Mamba as Justice Minister after his sexual escapes with Inkhosikati LaDube at a prestigious hotel at Ezulwini.
The local media have been scared to run the story since it broke out two weeks ago and Swazis have been relying on the South African newspapers to read about it. The governments attempt to censor even the foreign media has resulted in Mhlangas arrest and detention.
This has also led to unsubstantiated reports that City Press had been banned from circulating in Swaziland. However, the reports have been denied by the police.
MISA-Swaziland has confirmed with newspaper vendors in Mbabane that City Press did circulate last weekend but it was sold out in no time as more people wanted to read about the royal sex scandal.
MISA-Swaziland condemns Mhlangas arrest as it amounts to censorship and harassment. Swazis should be free to access and read newspapers or any other media of their choice without harassment. This is the basic human right which they should be allowed to enjoy without any restrictions.
MISA-Swaziland therefore calls on the police and government to drop the charges against Mhlanga as they have no basis but are only aimed at intimidating people and denying them access to information which is a violation of their rights.
Background
The story about Mamba and the Kings wife was first broken by Sunday Independent, another South African weekend paper as the local media got scared to touch it. The story said after Mamba was caught in bed with the Kings wife, he was arrested and detained but later released by the police. This happened whilst the King was away in Taiwan on a state visit.
Two days later, the embarrassed Mamba was forced to resign as both Minister for Justice and Senator in the Upper House of Parliament.
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