Times Of Swaziland: SPEAKER GETS DEATH THREATS FROM ATTACKERS

SPEAKER GETS DEATH THREATS FROM ATTACKERS
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BY SIBUSISO SHANGE on 06/12/2021 08:51:00


ZONDWAKO - The unknown people who attacked the homestead of the Speaker in the
House of Assembly last Saturday are said to have sent the legislator threatening
messages.
The attackers are said to have mocked the Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, and further
threatened to strike again no matter how much the Royal Eswatini Police Service
(REPS) protected him. This was revealed by the Speaker during an end of year
prayer service held at Zondwako Royal Kraal yesterday.  According to Mavimbela,
the unknown attackers threatened and further emphasised that they would kill him
no matter how the police might protect him. The legislator said the unknown
attackers concluded by urging him to fix the damage that they caused to his
fence during their illegal entry.
Message
He stated that acting on the message, he discovered the damaged fence referred
to by the attackers.  Worth noting was that the unknown attackers fired about 10
shots and further threw a petrol bomb at the Speaker’s house, however, it
(petrol bomb) hit the walls without causing any damage. “Ngisatibuta nje kutsi
ngabe babobani, bangisendele umlayeto batsi vele sitakubulala ye Mavimbela noma
lamaphoyisa angakugadza kanganani sitakubulala. Ekugcineni kwalomlayeto babese
batsi angiyovala lapho babulele khona uma bangena, nembala vele ngiyile ngabona
kutsi bangene kuphi,” he said in vernacular.
However, the Speaker stated that he was not shaken by the threats as his life
was protected by God. The legislator stated that the attackers would have killed
him had it not been for God’s protection. Mavimbela wondered why the attackers
opted for the attack in the dark as opposed to a dialogue if the cause was
politics or anything. He thanked all the residents of the area and the entire
nation for sharing their deepest sympathies after the attack.
Mavimbela mentioned that many people, including some who were unknown to him,
conveyed their sympathies. He said some even surrounded his homestead in prayer.
The Speaker said residents of the area had always been putting him in their
prayers each time there were meetings. He encouraged the nation to pray for
Their Majesties, government and those in authority as well as the whole of
emaSwati. On another note, Mavimbela urged the residents of the area to
participate in the national dialogue during the allotted time. He warned the
residents that failure to participate in the upcoming dialogue might result in
those present taking decisions for those who would miss the opportunity.
Meanwhile, the Chief of the area, Velamuva Maseko; said incidents like
Mavimbela’s recent attack were likely to happen if people were at work.
“When I spoke to Mavimbela about the recent incident, I said it would have
been worse than this, but God raised His hand. As people, we have a tendency of
thanking God on what we have seen.  There are many instances where God protects
us. He is there when we sleep and wake up. At times God gives us a signal that
we should change the way we do things. At times we look at the current challenge
and if we are lucky, we learn about the signal after we have been saved,” he
said.“Mavimbela angikucinise, vele uma kwakhiwa live nakusentjetwa kuba njalo.
Kuye kutsi uma kukhulunywa kutsiwe kuncane loku ngoba ukubonile lokukhulu
awukakuboni,” he added in vernacular.
Mistake
The chief said what needed to be understood was that it was not a mistake that
emaSwati chose to be emaSwati. He added that a lot, including things that
emaSwati used to see on television, were happening in the country. The chief
encouraged pastors to play their role in prayer so that God would also play His
role in saving the nation. Maseko concluded his speech by urging the residents
to participate in the ongoing Little Incwala, which entered its second day at
Ludzidzini Royal Residence yesterday. The prayer service, which was under the
theme EBENEZER, was attended by hundreds of residents of the area. It was
likened to Christmas as food was provided for all participants. The event was
graced by Apostle Candido Ofico from Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit Ministries. 
Also present was Police Gospel Messengers which was among the 23 churches of the
area.