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Paul Siwela

Leonard Ncube Court Reporter
THE treason trial of the Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) leaders resumes at the Bulawayo High Court today but fugitive Paul Siwela, one of the accused, is reportedly hiding in Sweden.Siwela missed judgment on his case of treason last month, where his MLF companions John Gazi, was acquitted and Charles Thomas had his application for discharge dismissed.

Thomas is expected to take the defence stand    without his leader, who skipped the country last  year. Siwela claimed in a letter to his lawyers that he was fleeing death threats, and Justice Nicholas Ndou issued a warrant of arrest against him.

Although no official comment could be obtained from the police yesterday on progress made so far to locate Siwela, reports claim that the 2002  losing presidential candidate sought asylum in Sweden.

Sindiso Shepherd Mazibisa of Abameli Human Rights Lawyers could not be drawn into giving details about his client’s whereabouts, although he confirmed that Siwela was outside the  country.

But Mazibisa said the defence team, which includes Robert Ndlovu and Advocate Lucas Nkomo was ready to defend Thomas today.
“The case is going ahead with continuation of trial and as is already known, John Gazi was discharged and we will be proceeding with the defence of Charles Thomas,” he said.

“Despite the fact that Siwela is nowhere to be found, we are ready and willing to continue with the case  and defend Thomas as Abameli Human Rights  Lawyers because the case has taken too long to complete.”

He said there was likely to be a separation of trial owing to the unavailability of Siwela, who took full advantage of the relaxation of bail conditions by the Attorney General’s Office to skip the country.

Siwela’s family is still in the country as his wife works in Bulawayo. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Siwela — accused of an alleged plot to overthrow President Mugabe’s government by advocating for street uprisings — said “the Republic of Matabeleland is due for delivery.”

His MLF organisation wants a separate Matabeleland state.