By Bhekie Matsebula

Chaos broke out at the High Court of Swaziland on Tuesday when police prevented followers of jailed Swazi opposition leader, Mario Masuku, from attending the trial.
The police even sjamboked at least three people, including a woman, who came to court wearing T-shirts bearing the emblem of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). There was a confrontation between the followers and the police at the entrance of the courtroom when the police further prevented Masuku's followers who were wearing tekkies.
Matters came to head when the police even prevented one of Masuku's lawyers, Advocate Piet Ebbersohn from entering the court premises unless he allowed them to scrutinise his law books and material he was to use in court.
Ebbersohn later told Judge Josiah Matsebula that the treatment he received from the police was tantamount to intimidation and this could have an impact on the outcome of the trial. The commotion brought the court to a standstill for about 30 minutes whilst the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lincoln N'garua and Masuku's lawyers tried to reason with the police. But all this failed as the police maintained that they were in charge of everything that happens inside the court premises.
The matter was eventually reported to Judge Matsebula who adjourned the proceedings in order to consult with the Chief Justice, Stanley Sapire on what to do regarding the police behaviour.
After an hour the judge came back and warned the police to behave themselves, but at the same time warning Masuku's followers to come to court properly dressed.
On the issue of tekkies, the judge expressed shock about this, saying this was a clear sign of harassment.
He warned the police not to turn Swaziland into a police state by their behaviour. However, the trial of Masuku, who is facing two counts of sedition, is continuing with a third witness taking the stand in the marathon trial that is expected to be concluded by next week.
Meanwhile, Swaziland's two major cities of Mbabane and Manzini woke up to unusual litter at the bus ranks and busy areas as pamphlets bearing the pictures of Mario Masuku and King Mswati III were found all over the place.
The pamphlets had the pictures of the two leaders facing each other with big words saying "Face to Face". Police had to work hard cleaning away all the pamphlets, some which were pasted on the walls of busy buildings and newspaper houses. The source of the pamphlets was still unknown, but police said they suspect that they were distributed by PUDEMO as the trial of their leader resumed on Tuesday morning.

Campaign action: send messages of solidarity to Mario at:  ssn@union.org.za