Times Of Swaziland: ARSON ATTACKS: ALL COPS ON LEAVE RECALLED

ARSON ATTACKS: ALL COPS ON LEAVE RECALLED
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Stanley Khumalo on 28/02/2022 08:56:00


MANZINI – All police officers who are currently on leave have been recalled
due to the spate of arson attacks in the country and other violent activities,
it has been gathered.
Impeccable sources within the police service claimed that they were recalled
from their annual leave last week to engage in raids within certain areas that
have been identified as hot spots for the current spate of petrol-bombings and
violence. The sources said there were growing concerns within the security
cluster in light of their personnel being targets of shootings. It was gathered
that the concerns were that there were illegal firearms which had been brought
into the country and were being used to target them. One of the fatal shootings
directed at a member of the security forces left Bheki Maziya, who was a member
of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) dead, Maziya died on the spot after
being shot while four people who were with him were rushed to hospital. His
murder has not been linked to political-related violence.
Shooting
This was subsequent to a shooting of a vehicle belonging to His Majesty’s
Correctional Services (HMCS) at Kwaluseni OK Foods last Saturday night. During
the shooting, three people were shot, including a minor by the unknown man. It
was said the gunmen had targeted the Correctional officers, whom they acuused of
being behind the ‘ill- treatment’ of their MPs.
It was gathered that during the raids that had been conducted by the police,
some of the places that were visited included Siphofaneni, Kwaluseni, New
Village and Mathangeni. The police were said to be looking for weapons and other
items that could be used in the commission of criminal acts.
According to impeccable sources, the police were in groups of 10. Upon arrival
at the residences that they were targeting, the police were said to have
presented to the residents what their mission was, with supporting documents,
which were said to be stating that they were engaging in routine searches for
items that could be linked to criminal acts and or could be exhibits of heinous
criminal acts. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector
Nosipho Mnguni could not commit on whether police officers were recalled from
their leave to engage in raids targeting people behind the spate of arson
attacks and shootings. Instead, she said such information was operational.
However, she confirmed that police were engaging in raids as part of their
routine operations.
“The raids are not specifically directed at certain events, but they are
frequently done as means to find and apprehend wanted criminals while also
seeking to get evidence through exhibits of stolen items used in the commission
of criminal acts,” Mnguni said. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that in recent
weeks, the spate of arson attacks have increased with property estimated to be
over E3 million being set alight.
Firearms
There have also been allegations of illegal firearms being used when engaging in
these attacks. On the morning of February 2, 2022, there were two arson attacks
resulting in E2.2 million damages. The arson attacks targeted a construction
site belonging to Inyatsi Construction at Hhelehhele, where heavy plant
machinery belonging to sub-contractors was set alight. The heavy plant machinery
that was destroyed was a tractor loader backhoe (TLB), a grader, tractor and
trailer. The heavy plant machinery at Inyatsi Construction was reportedly set
alight at about 4am. In the same morning, six vehicles were extensively damaged
while five were partially destroyed following an arson attack at the Swaziland
Association of Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (SACRO)
premises, where workshops are leased to small, medium enterprices (SMEs).
Rifles
The arsonists were reported to be carrying assault rifles when they descended at
the compound. Since the beginning of the month, security has been on high alert
subsequent to threats to bomb aircraft at the King Mswati III (KMIII)
International Airport. This resulted in the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of
Police, William Dlamini, disclosing that those who would be behind that mission
should know that they would be taking a high risk as the police were ready and
dangerously armed to ensure safety. It was reported that a contigent of police
officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), as well as members
of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), had been added to the existing
security personnel based at the international airport.  Also, in the wee hours
of February 22, 2022, which was the second week of the ongoing Junior
Certificate (JC) examinations, three schools experience arson attacks.
These schools were Nkiliji, Mcozini and Malindza High and they were invaded by
unknown men, who petrol-bombed some of the buildings and inscribed messages
suggesting that they would soon return. On the same day, teachers at Mpaka High
School were warned through graffiti to stop teaching or else face the unknown. A
day later, ardent readers of this publication, under Kukhanyeni Constituency in
the Manzini Region, missed an opportunity to be informed as two men set alight a
delivery van belonging to the company. They set alight the delivery van at about
6am after having intimidated the driver with a firearm. On February 23, 2022,
this publication reported the burning of four hectares of sugar cane fields,
equivalent to 400 tonnes at Mhlume.