Swaziland- Maseko and Makhubu Re-Arrested After Release From Jail
On the 6th of April Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko were released after three weeks in detention. As the detention of Makhubu and Maseka is the latest in a long line of attacks on personalities who have openly criticized the Swazi government, the court room was full of pro-democracy activists from the major civil society organisations.
Three days later Makhubu and Maseko were re-arrested pending a court date on April 14.
In the absolute Kingdom of Swaziland, the national history is marked by attacks on pro-democracy elements dating back to the banning of political parties in 1972, four years after independence from the British. The detention of Makhubu and Maseko is therefore far from a unique case but seems to be more the defining feature of the Swazi judicial system.