SWAZI trade unions yesterday welcomed the release on bail of two pro-democracy leaders imprisoned by their country’s royal regime.

People’s United Democratic Movement president Mario Masuku and Swaziland Youth Congress secretary-general Maxwell Dlamini were arrested for speaking at last year’s Trade Union Congress of Swaziland May Day rally.

They were bailed on Tuesday after more than a year in detention, during which they say they were subjected to brutal torture and inhumane conditions.

Mr Masuku had previously been jailed in 2001 for sedition against King Mswati III’s government and in 2008 for allegedly condoning terrorism in a speech at the funeral of Musa Dlamini, who died while supposedly trying to bomb the Lozitha bridge.

Mr Dlamini was locked up during the April 12 Swazi uprising in 2011 for possession of explosives and again in 2013 for sedition.