My sentencing was politically motivated – ex-MP Stewart

MBABANE – “I know my sentencing was politically motivated, but I hold no grudges” These sentiments were shared by recently released former Lobamba MP Allen Stewart during an interview with the Times SUNDAY.

The former legislator has made the startling allegations as well as opened up about his experience while in prison and the lessons he learnt while behind bars.

In February 2023, Stewart was taken to Sidwashini Correctional Services facility to begin his custodial sentence of three years for attempted murder.

This was after High Court Judge Doris Tshabalala, who convicted him on January 31, 2023, issued the sentence. When the judge delivered the judgment, Stewart was in the company of his wife, who also saw him off in the rain as police officers took him to the Correctional facility. Stewart committed the offence of attempted murder on October 31, 2010 at Moyeni, Siteki, in the Lubombo Region, during the funeral of his brother, John Stewart.

He shot Sibusiso Matsenjwa in the arm shortly after John had been buried. The attendees were having refreshments at the Stewart homestead when the shooting happened. At the time of his death, John was in a love relationship with Sibusiso’s sister, Gugu. The couple lived together for a number of years and they had children.

During the interview, the former MP revealed that he was fully aware of the reasons behind his sentencing last year, which he shared that it was allegedly politically motivated and there were certain people he might have angered while doing his work as a politician who, in turn, wanted to get back at him.

Stewart assured this publication that he had no desire to get revenge on the said people and his main focus was continuing with his life together with his family.

He also pointed out that personally, politics left him worse off and all he was focused on was his businesses and family.

The former legislator has shared that while in prison, he was treated with dignity and further shared that prison life was not what some people made it out to be. He, however, pointed out that what determined the treatment one received while in prison was how they carried themselves.

After spending a little over a year behind bars, former Lobamba Stewart is now a free man.

RELEASED

The MP was released from custody two weeks ago under the Extra Penal Employment (EPE) programme, which is one of the Correctional facility’s programmes.

The former legislator spent the past year serving his sentence at Sidwashini Correctional facility in Mbabane.

His release before serving his full sentence has raised a number of questions among some legislators and members of the public who happened to run into the former MP. However, His Majesty’s Corrections Services (HMCS) has clarified that the former MP was legally out of prison.

Currently, the MP is said to be living with his family around Mbabane following his release from the Correctional facility

Former Lobamba MP Allen Stewart. His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Public Relations Officer, Senior Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini confirmed that indeed the former MP had been released from prison.

While elaborating on the different kind on programmes that inmates were released from Correctional facilities, Dlamini said one of the conditions of release was after serving ones sentence which included the one third remission.

“For instance, if a person is sentenced to three years, a third of the sentence which in this case is equivalent to one-year is forfeited, meaning they serve a two-year sentence,” she said.

Dlamini said another programme under which a prisoner was released was if they have paid a fine and then third being released from prison on bail.

She, however, mentioned that as a Correctional facility, they had other programmes under which a prisoner could be released from jail. Dlamini said these programmes included community service as well as EPE.

The PRO clarified that the conditions under EPE applied when a convict had served part of their sentence and were left with less than 24 months under their sentence, that particular inmate was allegeable to be released under the programme.

“Under EPE, an inmate is released from prison but still remained under the custody of the Correctional services, however, they are assigned for employment in one of the government facilities such as inkhundla centre, schools, hospitals and other government institutions where they are assigned to a supervisor who periodically reports to the Correctional Services.,” she said.

EXPECTED

Dlamini said the inmate was expected to report for duty to their supervisor who is then expected to report to the correctional services.

She, however, clarified that in the case involving the former MP, as much as they could confirm that he had been released, certain legislation prevented them from divulging details on his release and where he had been posted to serve the remainder for his sentence outside the prison walls.

Dlamini said the legislation in place provided that they should protect inmates while they were still inside and when they were released from prison.

“We are expected to; by all means ensure that whatever we do as a Correctional institution, we protect inmates and their privacy. But I can confirm that no one including the former MP has escaped from jail. He is out legally,” said the PRO.

While narrating his experience, the former legislator said he was fully aware of what led to the arrest experience but assured that he had no intention to dwell on the past and was not interested in revenge. He said he had no hard feelings and was not holding a grudge against anyone.

The former MP said he was at peace with what happened to him and his main focus now that he was out was his family and his businesses. He said he was focusing on continuing with his life and stated that when he became a politician, he already had a life he was living and he would continue to live his life as before.

The former legislator who was calm said as a person, he did not like to worry about what would happen tomorrow but preferred to cross the bridge when he got there. He said the most important thing was that he was out and back with his family.

When asked if he was prepared to get back into the political arena, the former MP said he had no personal desire to get back into politics. He, however, revealed that being a politician was in the hands of what the electorate wanted.

“It does not matter how much you wish to be a politician, it is all about what the people want at the end of the day,” he said.

He, however, left the door open for a future shot at the political life as long as it was what the people wanted.The former legislator revealed that he did not regret being a politician .

“But honestly speaking, this is not a train smash as in my entire life I have been through a lot and this was just part of the challenges one must face in life,” he said.