The charges laid against Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube are another desperation attempt by the prosecutor to impugn the good name of the MPs and to create an impression to the citizens of Swaziland and international community that they have serious charges to answer to.

This is according to their Lawyer Mr. Sicelo Mngomezulu who released a joint statement with TR Maseko Attorney’s on Saturday saying that they were instructed to do so on behalf of their client.

Mngomezulu revealed that their client rejects the charges preferred against them as indicated on the Amended Indictment dated 15 October 2021.

According to this indictment, the Members of Parliament have now been charged among other charges of contravening section 5 of the Suppression of Terrorism act, and section 4 of Sedition and Subversive act. They have also been charged with 2 count of murder. On top of these charges, MP Bacede is also accused of contravening Regulation 4 issued under the Disaster Management Act.

However, the Members of parliament have since came out to reject these charges describing them as trumped up charges.

“The MPs reject these trumped up charges with the contempt that they deserve. The MPs are honorable Members of Parlament, having been duly elected by their respective constituencies. Further to this, these MPs are respected and upright members of society, who have dedicated their lives to the upliftment of their constituencies and the whole Swaziland and held in high regards by many,” read the public statement that was issued by Mngomezulu.

“The trumped-up charges referred above, in particular the murder charge, are yet another attempted by the prosecutor to impugn the good name of the MPs and to create an impression to the citizens of Swaziland and the international community that they have serious charges to answer to,” he added.

He said the prosecution that the Members of Parliament are subjected to is deeply concerning and seems to be geared towards pushing them for the call they have made for democratic reforms. He said, this is a call that the MPs made acting on the mandate of their constituencies.

Mngomezulu maintained that the MPs still stand by the call and is apparent that their stance is resonating with most of Emaswati looking at the support that they got from the public through peaceful demonstration.

The MPs have noted and are humbled by this show of support through these mass mobilization and protests, which regrettably (and perhaps predictable) have been met by violence repression by the state’s armed forces, resulting in the death of innocent civilians and the brutalization and harming of many, including primary school children, Condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and those who are injured recovery speedily,” said Mngomezulu.