Communist Party of Swaziland

Mbabane, Wednesday 12 July 2023:- On Tuesday, 11 July 2023 at around 11:00am, Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) Central Committee member, Comrade Sambulo Shongwe, was arrested by six heavily armed police officers at his dormitory at the University of Swaziland, Mbabane Campus.

Comrade Sambulo Shongwe is also the National Executive Committee member of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) serving as National Political Educator.

Eye witnesses reveal that the police had covered their faces with balaclavas and had gathered intelligence about Comrade Sambulo’s whereabouts. Upon entering the university premises, they went straight to where he was to capture him.

“They just went straight to his dormitory, heavily knocked on his door, and apprehended him right away”, said one student identified as Bathulise who witnessed the incident first-hand.

Comrade Sambulo was later taken to Mbabane police station where he was detained and interrogated. He spent the night at the Mbabane police station.

In the morning of Wednesday 12 July 2023, he appeared before the Mbabane magistrate’s court. It was revealed that he had been heavily tortured by the police and was limping as he appeared in court.

He was remanded in custody until Friday 15 July 2023, currently held at Sidvwashini Prison in Mbabane.

The regime has now charged Comrade Sambulo Shongwe with assault, which the regime claims took place during protests actions, the counts being:

1. Assaulting security guards at the University of Swaziland in Mbabane Campus,

2. Assaulting one security guard at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Mbabane,

3. Assaulting a police officer at Manzini magistrate’s court where he, together with workers and democracy activists had gone to support (SNAT) Deputy Secretary Mxolisi Ngcamphalala’s court case on Friday 12 May 2023, wherein the regime arbitrarily resuscitated a 2019 charge teachers’ union against the teachers’ union leader.

The Mswati autocracy has intensified its attacks on communist activists in Swaziland and is hellbent on crushing the democratic movement.

This latest arrest and trumped-up charges follow the recent abduction and vicious torture of four Communist Party members by Mswati’s soldiers on 29 June 2023. On that day, our comrades were abducted on their way to attend the trial of another CPS member, Comrade Mvuselelo Mkhabela who faces political charges related to campaigning against the discredited sham tinkhundla elections.

Under the BREAK THE CHAINS CAMPAIGN, the Communist Party of Swaziland demands the unconditional release of Comrade Mvuselelo Mkhabela, Comrade Sambulo Shongwe, and all political prisoners.

The CPS reiterates its call for unity of the mass democratic movement for the total overthrow of the Mswati autocracy.

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SWAZILAND

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Contacts: Thokozane Kenneth Kunene
General Secretary
(+27)72 594 3971

Email: cpswa.org@gmail.com
Facebook: Communist Party Of Swaziland – CPS
Twitter: @CPSwaziland
Website: https://atomic-temporary-198635616.wpcomstaging.com/