Africa-Press – Eswatini. Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza has pleaded with High Court Judge Mumcy Dlamini to be motherly when delivering sentence.
The former Hosea Member of Parliament also pleaded with the judge that in making her decision, she should not only consider his life, his personal capacity but also think of his family, his children, his mother who has a disability and had not been able to see him since he was arrested.
Mabuza further submitted that his relatives, all who he supported were now suffering without their ‘father’ and husband.
Attention was on the former MP as he presented a seven-page mitigation statement before the judge yesterday.
Mabuza, who was found guilty of terrorism and murder together with Mthandeni Dube, also a former MP, also pleaded for the judge to be considerate because he was a family man with wives, who he loved dearly and believes he chose very well as they are beautiful.
The judge responded to Mabuza’s submission about his wives being beautiful saying he was on point there because there was a precedent where a judicial officer was acquitted because his wife was beautiful.
The former MP further pleaded for the judge to look beyond him in his personal capacity but also that he was also a father to 16 children.
“It is particularly challenging when I am denied the right to see my family, my lovely children, my lovely wives, my brothers and sisters and my mother, who is still alive. She’s never been allowed to come and visit me in prison,” Mabuza said.
One could hear the change in his voice tone when the former MP and businessman also disclosed how his business empire had crumbled, just because he was arrested and sent to jail for standing up for what he believed was the truth. He said when he was arrested in 2021 he had 14 hardware stores nationwide but today not even one was left.
The businesses, according to Mabuza, employed over 500 Emaswati and children of Emaswati who were now jobless.
He went on to state that while he was in prison one of his stores, which had E10 million stock inside, was burnt at Sidvwashini.
Nothing was saved and Mabuza believes this was government’s doing.
He said all this was pain he was subjected to for holding to a truth that he still upholds, adding that he would not change his mindset.
Mabuza said all his stores were insured and were up to date in payment of their insurance with Lidwala Insurance.
He said all the paperwork was in order to pay out insurance and everything approved but in the last minute he was informed of an order stopping the insurance pay out.
“All this suffering, I say, should end with me and not any other Liswati,” he submitted before court.
Mabuza further presented that when he started the business in 2006, he was never at any point taken to court for having failed to pay debts associated with his businesses.
“But today as I am in jail, I see front page news where my name is tarnished saying I am failing to pay debts for my businesses and this breaks my heart because it is aimed at preventing me and my children not to ever have a good life.”
He said all that he did was about the lives of Emaswati.
“I plead with the above honourable court to be reasonable and rational during sentencing, so that the other honourable MPs, who are representing the people, will feel free to speak without fear or favour and feel empowered to criticise the government for the bene?t of the people of this country,” Mabuza said.
He pointed out that it can be accepted that, if the sentence is harsh on them, other MPs would never stand for the truth as they would always be afraid that they might be arrested. The former legislator also said he was happy because now there was change.
“But I see the change. I am happy because the people of Eswatini, in the recent People’s Parliament, Sibaya, last year, which was called by His Majesty the King, used their voices to call for some reforms to the system and also called for our release,” Mabuza submitted arguing that Emaswati understood that they never committed any crime against anyone in the country.
As he reasoned that what he did was for the betterment of the lives of Emaswati and future generation, Mabuza submitted that nothing had to do with personal gain or benefit.
“It was all about this country, the love of the country and the people of this country,” he said, continuing that all was said and done whilst he was representing the people who had sent him to Parliament.
He said he never woke up one morning, just as an ordinary Swazi citizen, calling for reforms. The former legislator said what he did was within his obligations as an MP, representing the people and their interests. The former MP Bacede Mabuza said before coming to court to make his submissions he prayed to God for guidance.
His question to the Almighty was what to consider his family and himself or the suffering Emaswati. Mabuza said God’s answer was clear and he refused to betray the truth.
The former MP also prayed that God be with Judge Mumcy Dlamini as she was about to pass sentence.
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