Times Of Swaziland: FURY AFTER MPS BACEDE, MTHANDENI ARREST

FURY AFTER MPS BACEDE, MTHANDENI ARREST
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BY STANLEY KHUMALO on 26/07/2021 09:08:00


MANZINI - Some social media users yesterday reacted with fury to the news of the
arrest of legislators who have been vocal regarding political reforms in the
country.
This was after news spread that Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede
Mabuza and his colleague Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube had been arrested by the
police. Many social media users, especially on Facebook, expressed their fury
and wondered if government was ready for level two of chaos in the country.
Worth noting is that following the banning of the delivery of petitions with
immediate effect by government late last month, the country experienced a
political unrest which claimed the lives of many people and resulted in the
vandalism, looting and torching of some properties. During the mayhem,
government claimed that the damages suffered were worth E3 billion with 5 000
job losses.
Burning
Some of the Facebook users insinuated that government should be prepared as
looting and the burning of tyres would ensue from today. Others questioned if
the country was ready for ‘chaos level 2’, while some said all legislators
must rise and join the struggle, especially those who received the petitions.
The users also noted that in Eswatini it was supposedly a crime to express what
bothered the citizens. Meanwhile, as he boarded a white police van during his
arrest yesterday evening, the the Hosea Constituency MP uttered these words;
“Fear not, as this is what we expected when we started seeking freedom for the
people.” Mabuza said people should not be shocked by what was happening as
such incidents were bound to happen when change was about to be attained. He
said this was part of what he expected when he took the oath upon being elected
into public office. The legislator said by taking the oath into public office,
he opted to speak for the citizenry at all times.
Shocked
Mabuza said: “EmaSwati should not be shocked by this as when I started to
engage on change, I spoke about the pursuit of freedom knowing that such would
be the end result. This is part of the journey for the citizenry to be free and
be able to engage in all issues without fear. Those who can pray should do so as
this is a pursuit we shall not deviate from.” A contingent of about 13 police
officers, who were not in uniform, was found within the yard of the politician
at one of his residences in Ngwane Park, Manzini. Mabuza boarded the police van
that chauffeured him to the Mbabane Old Police Station at about 5:38pm. This was
despite that police officers were said to have arrived at his residence at about
3:20pm. When this publication’s reporter arrived at his residence, Mabuza was
found seated in his car – a black Porsche Cayenne GTS – which was idling.
The legislator said upon arrival at his compound, at around 3:15pm, a white
Toyota Land Cruiser and a white Toyota single cab blocked the gate of his
compound. Subsequent to that, he said a police officer approached him and served
him with two warrants of arrests. Thereafter, Mabuza said after consulting, he
was advised not to descend from his vehicle until he had completed consulting.