THE [SWAZILAND] PRISON, MY HOME

By Mario Masuku

I had said, in the past article, that we would today look into our prisons, their administration
and co-habitation for the community there.

By nature, very few people would choose to leave their homes, family, society and
livelihoods and choose, instead, to sacrifice and live in a prison for nearly a year. There must
be a commitment, a cause or ideal that drives one to take such actions, and in his book,
“Dreams from my Father,” Barack Obama (now the President of the United States of
America ), writes that;

„There is a struggle going on. It‟s a struggle that touches each one of us. Whether we know it
or not, whether we want it or not. A struggle that demands that we choose sides. Not between
black and white. No – it‟s a harder choice than that. It‟s a choice between dignity and
servitude. Between fairness and injustice. Between commitment and indifference. A choice
between right and wrong.‟

Accepting PUDEMO‟s resolution and taking on the program was not easy for I knew that it is
admirable to be principled and brave, but graves are, today full of honest, humble, principled
and brave men and women of this world. Nevertheless one sets out to travel a road to an
objective irrespective of the terrain and material conditions.

Having been booked in at the Matsapha Central Prisons, Maximum Section Cell C, I accepted
the daily monotonous rituals, one was exposed to various battles along the liberation
highway. It is worth mentioning, at this point, that I was encouraged, highly revolutionalised
by words from Chairman Mao Ze Dong who said that one „……….should not engage and
fight wars and battles you‟re guaranteed to lose.‟ Though challenging, but our battles were
winnable.

I also learnt, in these challenging situations, to live above people‟s opinions about me and the
situation I was in, because for every battle, scar or crises, there is a wide window of
opportunity.

Visits to the prison by public

Institutions of state in any undemocratic regime expectedly enforces rules that undermine
people‟s fundamental rights, and in this case, rights to freedom of movement. The prison
warders have „rules‟ meant not to make people comfortable but to feel intimidated and, at
worst, suppressed and harassed.

I had accepted the fact that I was to suffer for the cause I believe in, but my principles are
mine and no other people should be victimized because of this. In June, my brother Pat and
his wife had travelled some 500 kilometers .from the Republic of South Africa to see me, but
were refused because „the quota was full‟ many of my friends and comrades from PUDEMO,
church leaders were turned back. My friends from Denmark , United Kingdom , America and
COSATU were refused entry into the prison.
A petty rule is in place that an inmate may only be visited by three people per day,
irrespective of who they are and where they come from. During visits, my relatives felt
humiliated and intimidated as prison warders would look at and listen at our conversation
from mouth to mouth for a whole fifteen minutes. I was supervised, averagely, by three
officials.

Lately, the visitors‟ pass was kept by the prison warders and not to be returned to the entry
gate attendants. This was meant to intimidate visitors as it was used to monitor my visitors,
their identity and frequency.

The worst scenes, however, were two-one of which were the torment, harassment and
humiliation of my wife, Thembi, on three visit occasions. On these she would arrive at the
prison at around 1000hrs or earlier, but I would only be shown up some four hours later. On
the first two occasions, no apology was extended until my wife and I scolded the warders –
and on all these instances one shift officer R. Fakudze was involved – a peculiar character.
Normally Thembi is reserved, kind, and respectful but always straight talking. On this
occasion, however S.O. Fakudze and his guards saw the wroth of a real revolutionary in her
and clearly begged, feared no one in the corridors of power. I also thought she had gone
overboard when she even declared she also, was prepared to serve in jail if treated in such
horrible, insensitive and humiliating manner. All the guards each started apologizing blaming
the count routine, shortage of staff and some exonerating themselves from the debate.

The second scene was when I had a visitor and I was escorted to the reception area by this
S.O. Fakudze. I am normally handcuffed from the Maximum section and unfastened on
arrival at the visitation area, but on this day S.O. Fakudze refused to un-cuff me and I
interacted with my visitors with my hands visibly in irons. I felt sad for the visitors who
looked shocked.

In any bad situation though, there always is a glimmer of hope and good, and not all warders
were as evil hearted. In fact some were even sympathetic and in solidarity with my cause.

Administration in prison

When one is incarcerated for one‟s consciousness, furtherance of the rights of others and the
broader emancipation of the down trodden, the have-nots and the poorest of the poor, the
suffering becomes programmatic a national democratic revolution and the route is priceless.
The objective diverts from being that of physical and mental suffering and becomes that of
transforming the society that one finds oneself in. I lived a life of a call to humanization, and
dehumanization turns to distort this call, and this distortion must not weaken us or drag us to
a fundamentalist position which is conservative.

To understand, absorb and positively approach the obtaining administration in the regimes‟
jails, one has to categorize the challenge into the levels and classes that exists in the
institution.

For an example there are those in the lowest class who carry a bunch of keys, open and close
the jail gates and doors with unending monotony. These are the sentries, the guards who are
so helplessly voiceless and shamefully underpaid, who live in shared accommodation, some
(as part of their duties) are locked in our cells overnight. They are not allowed to carry
umbrellas (on rainy days), they patrol on hot or cold nights without shelter. And most
importantly – they work on orders! They are taught and instructed to „take orders first, and
complain later.‟ Yes, I feel for them.

Among these there are those who blindly take orders without their own independent thinking
- acting like parrots. These are those with vast chances of promotion. Some of these
„potential‟ warders go to the extent of paying school fees for their seniors‟ children in lieu of
promotion. Others get promoted for their cultural finesse e.g. on the sibhaca or indlamu
arena. Then there are those (mostly young) who are progressive thinkers, positively
challenging issues and are humane, but in prisons, their careers are nowhere near rosy.
Because of their inquiring minds and none-easy-submissive but intelligent approach they are
termed „bayaphikisa‟ which is taboo in prison life. I interacted and shared good times with
many of them, and I believe there is still a lot to be done.

Then there are the sergeants and aspirants to these ranks. Some of these are those promoted
for heroic physical feats like the one who had run and apprehended an escaping prisoner, for
eavesdropping on fellow work mates, neatness etc. Only lately, I have heard some „tests‟ are
undergone towards this level. Among these, mostly are those who want their authority felt by
superiors who drive them even harder. I remember one such who enjoyed heading inmates
and suspects around like goats, wielding his short stick shouting orders and unprintable
comments to them. Did I hear somebody mention Mandlanduna, Madluphuthu etc? Others,
though, were reasonable, executed their duties effectively but were also friendly and I
encouraged them to study, be humane, and understand the material and concrete conditions in
life.

This prison is manifest with irregularities contradictions and inconsistencies and conflicts of
interests. There was always pretence that my incarceration was as a result of a criminal
charge, yet, I was harassed and treated like a political „guest‟. The infamous S.O. Fakudze
and one Sergeant Simelane who acted as the senior gate guard subjected my wife and other
visitors to spiritual and physical torment.

These shameful men instituted a censorship that they could not themselves understand and so
got boggled. How do you explain, for instance, their violently refusing entry of the Biography
of Thabo Mbeki, Books by Barrack Osama, The Nation Magazine (later released), yet allow
in To Kill a Mocking Bird etc. Books by South African liberation struggle leaders were taboo
in prison, newspapers were screened „thoroughly‟ (which meant reading) and then released to
me grudgingly.

Higher still, there are the shift officers who are the most senior at the sections. I had an
opportunity to be under watchful the eyes of one Motsa (retired), Hale and one Mamba,
people who listened and also advised constructively. These gentlemen did me no special
favours but did all within the law to ensure that I (and other convicts and suspects) am not ill-
treated inspite of the bearocracy in the institution.

Again, others tried hard to ensure I felt the strain and personalized my issue. You see, my
father, Isihlahla somkhaya esingahlalwa yinyoni, and uncle, uMshumayeli ongazisho, abanye
bezisho worked in the Winkelhaak Gold Mines near Kinross in the Republic of South Africa
and I know what a guard is. Unfortunately, uMntolo happens to feature prominently in this
category of those senior warders who, I would rank around one out of a ten marking for his
character and involvement;
He was a symbol of hate, repression, torture and bitterness in that community.

And he was the most senior officer on that severely cold night of the 25th March, 2009 when
I was stripped naked and insulted by young boys in the name of a „search routine.‟ He is the
same sir who barred my private medical practitioner from visiting me for flimsy reasons and
requirements. UMntolo is at the center of a letter I wrote to the Prime Minister in February,
2009, but was made to „float‟ round in circles. This will be discussed in detail in future in this
column.

At times, if they agreed, I would seek a meeting with these senior officers and would take
time clarifying, articulating my position and ideals in life which has resulted in my
incarceration. I also clearly told them that I expected them to do their duties diligently but
impartially without favour, but was unshakably firm on my fundamental rights and principles.
I was prepared, I said, for any eventuality after the trial as I was on a protracted PUDEMO
program of action even here.

His Majesty‟s Correctional Services administration at the Matsapha institution can be better
and has to be looked into before it reaches crisis point. The Officer-In-Charge there has to be
more evident to all the community for interaction and acquaintance with challenges as those
junior to him always pass the buck over to him. Since my arrival there, I have only officially
seen him three times, not counting instances when I met him passing at the visitation area. I
have been there before and will not compare his administration style with his predecessors.

His Deputy, one Ngcamphalala had become more closer to all of us, and it could be due may
be to his new role of being a Christian Preacher too, following his ordeal in the recent past.
He came in to enquire of my health, trial arrangements and other concerns – and also
preached. In spite of the bearocracy in prisons, Ngcamphalala was decisive.

There was another younger, third in command (I presume), a tall lean, sociable but strict
person – one M. Dludlu. When I fell seriously ill one evening vomiting, aching and extremely
weak it was him who came with a medical officer at around 2330hrs. When that man R.
Fakudze refused me sending my old newspapers home Dludlu came to the rescue. When I
was eventually joined in by four other suspects (a very interesting lot) they sought for
mattresses as it was severely cold, Dludlu provided these. When the same Fakudze and his
friends refused me reasonable environment for consultation it was Dludlu who provided this.

Whether these tantrums and repressive or positive responses were individual; or corporate
decisions to me it is immaterial – they were done in the name of the then (Acting)
Commissioner of Prisons, the Attorney General, Minister, government and the Head of State.
At one time earlier this year, I was visited by a team of senior warders. One seemed more
senior and went in, looked at me and said he had come to check on me. No introduction was
done, no comments asked from me and the next minute he was out. The following morning, it
was in the print media that a Mr. Harold Dlamini from their Head Quarters had been to the
Maximum section, seen me and I was very well. I was taken aback as, if I had known who he
was, I would have told him of my conditions. I however accepted that I had been hit below
the belt by a coward and expressed my view to the prison seniors.

Later on 11 June, 2009, I had a visitor from the then Acting Commissioner who appeared
genuine to listen to my and other people‟s concerns. I told him my old story and expectations
while in his accommodation and his response was that he understood me well and that he
would respond later. I did not see him until I was acquitted – very unfortunate.

Defenders of the regime and its institution will cry scarcity of resources, but I believe that
those dungeons could be better managed. In there, I saw boys, juveniles, as young as nineteen
housed together with older and more experienced individuals. I do not know what goes on
inside the cells, but jails are the same anywhere and children should be separated from adults
– irrespective of what they had done. Prisons are known to produce hard core criminals from
innocent young people instead of correcting them.

I feel pity for the medical staff and inmates in this institution. In most cases, due to the
bearocracy, inmates take excessively long pain before being given medical assistance and at
times there is no medication. There are a great number of inmates who are HIV positive and I
wish that they be frequently and openly referred to competent medical expects, and
organizations like SWANNEPHA must be allowed access to these societies for counseling,
and other relevant NGO‟s dealing with their treatment and rehabilitation. I have seen and
heard some inmates who do not get frequent medication and proper diet for those conditions.

Generally like all the tinkhundla administration medical dispensaries, the prison was always
ill supplied with drugs or the authorities there were arrogant and uncooperative. I had been,
for instance, suffering from a toothache since December, 2008, eyes and ear trouble since
early this year, but was only sent for attention on 21st August, 2009, after exerting some
pressure and threatening not to attend trial.

I am grateful to Dr Khayam who was always acting professionally and at times went out of
his way to get me some medication. The medical staff was also dedicated to their work, but
the buck ended with their indifferent superiors.

Sometimes in prison one gets comfort from activities that bring to you relaxation,
remembrance and hope. I got this from visits by the Prison Fellowship, Church and Ministry
groups, Evangelists Magelembane Msibi, one Dlamini from Matsapha and many others. An
inmate, Boyzie Gama was inspirational and helped me to concentrate on powers beyond the
prison. It also strengthened my will and that Christ Jesus was the greatest revolutionary and
fighter for the peoples‟ freedom and life of all time.

So rough is this road to freedom! I now believe that before the breakthrough, we have to go
through jail and those warders and other state organs who did what they did were merely
contributing to the inevitable. What they are doing to the SWAYOCO President, Wandile
Dludlu and others is actually fast tracking the wheels of the revolution – kuyizithunywa
zokusisondeza enkululekweni.

For the whole of my life, I have abhorred all forms of discrimination, repression, corruption,
elitism, dominance of one by another, nepotism and impoverished governance. In spite of
such conditions of intimidation, hate and danger, I had agreed that one may have in one‟s
hand a cluster of keys, some are duplicates, but only one key goes into the key hole, that
opens the door of the huge hall and lets in or out thousands of souls. Some of us have no
option but to be that one key.

In William Shakespears‟ great tragedy drama, Othello, the same says that „the robbed that
smiles, steals something from the thief. He robs himself that spends a bootless grief!‟ So, we
do not stress ourselves about those who hurt and hate us – we only have to travel the road that
our fallen heroes and heroines travelled. PUDEMO is a nationalist and liberation movement
whose goals are as crystal and as constant as the „north‟ star.

In passing, I today challenge MISA and all media houses and question them if they saw no
irregularity in the statement from leadership in which the judiciary was reduced to a
kindergarten class. In the same vein, I feel ashamed of „learned friends‟ Law Society which
was also conspicuous by its loud silence. I have more questions than answers on this issue,
that, did someone from down there silence them all? or do we all now suffer from self –
censorship? Are the people informers, protectors in a comma in the ICU of fear of
repression?

If anyone is to blame for the non-independence of the media and judiciary, it is not those who
wield the makhundu and kukhama - it is we who „die many times before our death‟ and then
pretend we are free.

The working class, the unemployed, the people in the rural and the suffering in urban areas
including the youth and women have always been the motive forces that drive the vehicle to a
transformation and a free society. From as early as July, 1983, the people‟s liberation
movement, PUDEMO had as its cornerstones these social classes.

I wish therefore to salute the Swaziland Federation of Labour and Swaziland Federation of
Trade Unions for having come out of their Congress with new leadership following the voice
of their majorities in their constituencies. I also salute those noble country men and women
who have willingly handed over the baton to fellow comrades to lead the workers through
this challenging battle for their broad rights.

This is no time to identify one another on ideological beliefs, race, gender or physic – for that
is what counter – revolutionaries and reactionaries will always do. I urge “all workers of
Swaziland and the world to unite!” All forces for change assemble under the Swaziland
United Democratic Front and fight relentlessly for freedom.

Let us pen off for today, and as promised, we will next week share the moments in
preparation for and the trial itself.

Mario Masuku is president of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) in

Swaziland, a political formation banned in the kingdom ruled by King Mwsati III, sub-
Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Masuku was on remand in jail from November 2008 to September 2009 on charges of
terrorism and sedition. When he eventually appeared in court, the Swaziland High Court
judge threw out the case after five hours of a trial expected to last several days. The judge
called the prosecution case ‘hopeless.’

This article appeared in the Times Sunday (Swaziland) on 18 October 2009. It was the third
in a series of articles by Masuku published by the Times Sunday, the only newspaper group
in Swaziland’s free of direct government control.