Eswatini: End of the Road for Rule of Law

analysis

The bizarre case of Swaziland's detained chief government vehicle inspector, Bhantshana Gwebu, is further evidence that the judicial system has gone to the dogs. While the constitution places King Mswati and the Queen Mother above the law, it now appears that High Court judges feel that they, too, should not be accountable to the very laws that they have sworn to uphold and safeguard.

In the latest shocking display of his utter contempt for the rule of law, Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi sent Gwebu to prison for seven days for contempt of court on January 20 - having refused him the right to legal representation. Just think about that for a second. And then ponder Ramodibedi's reasoning (if you can even call it that) for violating Gwebu's right to be represented by an attorney - the fact that Gwebu's lawyer was not present when Gwebu committed the 'offence'.

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