Times Of Swaziland: GUN COCKED TO CONTROL SUPPORTERS

GUN COCKED TO CONTROL SUPPORTERS
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BY SIBUSISO SHANGE on 07/12/2021 08:51:00


MBABANE – Police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU)
had to cock a gun as some of those who were at the High Court to support the
incarcerated MPs tried to disturb operations.
Ordinarily, officers of the law are entrusted with the safety of accused persons
and the public during high profile cases. The officers of the law ensure the
safety by escorting the convoy which transports the accused persons to courts.
However, the MPs’ supporters who remained outside the High Court due to space
constraints hoisted their fists and whistled while others pushed the motor
vehicle that was transporting the MPs; Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and
Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi.
This was when the legislators left the High Court premises in a convoy of three
cars. The MPs’ supporters further ran after the car that was ferrying the MPs.
At the time, armed police officers from OSSU were escorting the convoy. The
police officers exercised patience until the situation reached a point where
they had to cock a gun in order to restore order.
Shooting
“Why aren’t you shooting at us?” said the MPs’ supporters when they
heard the sound of the gun. Some of the MPs’ supporters boasted that they had
seen the MPs from the back of the van. Noted was that the legislators reacted
from the back of the van when they saw their supporters running behind the car.
The MPs’ supporters arrived at the High Court in Toyota Quntums and remained
outside the gate due to space constraints inside the High Court. Some of the
supporters came from the political formations such as People’s United
Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), and
Economic Freedom Fighters Swaziland (EFFSWA) among other groups.
Some legislators such as Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula and Somntongo MP Dumisani
Mbhamali were allowed into the courtroom. While outside the gate, one of the
organisers pleaded with the supporters to exercise calm. “Do not block the
road because such may result in the police officers chasing us away. They cannot
even allow us to be here,” the organiser told the supporters before he
proceeded to the courtroom. The supporters then sang at the top of their voices
as the convoy approached the High Court. They remained outside the gate where
they sang and chanted political slogans.
Adjourned
This lasted until the matter was adjourned.  Noted was that it was the first
time police officers allowed the MPs’ supporters to sing outside the gate.
The MPs’ supporters left the High Court after they were addressed by Sicelo
Mngomezulu who forms part of the legislators’ legal team. Mngomezulu informed
the supporters that the MPs wrote to the King and embassies in their personal
capacity as emaSwati who were elected by the people to represent them in
Parliament. The lawyer stated that writing to the King and the embassies had
nothing to do with the ongoing case.
Mngomezulu further encouraged the supporters to mobilise more people. 
“Eswatini needs to be democratised and that is going to happen. Do not lose
hope,” he said. Meanwhile, Hosea MP’s brother businessman Bheki Mabuza
thanked those who were in court to give the MPs’ moral support. “Be safe as
you leave this place because we will need you tomorrow. Do not forget that we
have no way to defend ourselves once the police officers start beating us,”
said one of the organisers.