MSWATI HIDES BEHIND “CONSTITUTION” AS JAILED MP IS FORCED TO BEG FOR MERCY

King Mswati’s regime is once again hiding behind constitutional language and technicalities while the world watches a disturbing display of humiliation and injustice. Convicted pro-democracy MP Mthandeni Dube—jailed for simply demanding an elected Prime Minister—is now being paraded as a man begging for forgiveness, not justice.

According to King Mswati’s Spokesperson, Percy Simelane, the MP is “exercising his constitutional right to clemency” by appealing to the King for mercy. Simelane went further to say that decisions in such matters are made based on recommendations from the Commissioner General of Correctional Services. In other words, it’s not about guilt or innocence, but whether the prisoner qualifies to be forgiven by the same regime that silenced him.

“We want to believe Mr Mthandeni Dube is exercising his constitutional right to clemency. On the King’s comment, we would like to accept that parole is constitutional and every inmate deserves it if he/she qualifies for it,” said Simelane, trying to downplay the fact that this entire process reeks of coercion and political theatre.

But what unfolded on Friday during Correctional Services Day in Matsapha was anything but constitutional dignity. Mthandeni Dube, once a proud voice in Parliament for democratic reform, was forced to kneel—literally—before the same monarch who ordered his arrest. He did not kneel directly, of course. That role was given to Justice Minister Prince Simelane, who acted as Dube’s lincusa (a traditional mediator), publicly pleading for the King’s forgiveness on the convicted MP’s behalf.

“I’ve been asked by Mthandeni Dube, umfana wakho Ngwenyama, to wish you a long life. He further asked me to be his lincusa when approaching the King to apologise,” Simelane told the monarch in front of an audience. The King, embracing the role of merciful ruler, welcomed the message and spoke of forgiveness.

But this is not justice—it’s performance. It’s a calculated move designed to make Mswati look like a forgiving King, when in truth, he is the very reason these MPs are behind bars in the first place.

Let’s not forget why Dube is in prison. He stood up in Parliament and called for what millions of emaSwati want: democratic reforms and the right to elect their own Prime Minister. For that, he was slapped with terrorism charges and sentenced to life behind bars. There was no real trial. There was no fair justice. Just a warning to others: challenge the King, and this could be your fate.

Now, instead of acknowledging international pressure to release political prisoners, the regime is playing a clever game. They want the world to believe that these MPs are being released out of royal mercy, not because they were wrongfully imprisoned. They want to say, “Look at how gracious the King is,” instead of admitting they violated the rights of democratically elected leaders.

The question emaSwati must ask is this: Why must our leaders beg for mercy for speaking the truth? Why must justice come from the throne and not the law?

Mthandeni Dube doesn’t need clemency—he needs justice. He doesn’t need to apologise—he needs to be freed. Until that happens, this country will remain a prison for anyone who dares to speak out against royal power.