Times Of Swaziland: 8 MEMBERS OF MNISI CLAN FACTION ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT

8 MEMBERS OF MNISI CLAN FACTION ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT
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Sibusiso Shange on 10/03/2022 08:56:00


MBABANE – Eight members of the Mnisi Clan under the faction of the late Chief
Bhekumuzi Mnisi have been arrested for assaulting a subject of Princess Ngebeti
at Mantjolo.
According to the charge sheet, the eight assaulted Albert Zitha with open hands
and a wire several times all over the body. Interestingly, the eight were
charged along with Zitha’s wife, Bonisile Mavuso, who is also accused of
having a hand in the assault of her husband. It should be noted that Mavuso pays
allegiance to the late Chief Bhekumuzi’s faction. It appeared the couple was
unlawfully allocated a piece of land by some members of the late chief’s
faction. However, with time, Zitha joined the princess’s faction. The
differences are said to have resulted in Zitha kicking his wife out of their
matrimonial homestead. As a result, the couple started fighting over the
homestead.
Assigned
It transpired that on the day of the incident, the eight were assigned by the
elders of the faction to accompany Mavuso to her matrimonial homestead. The
court was told that upon arrival at Zitha’s homestead, he rejected his wife,
stating that there was no way they could be together in the same homestead. The
eight quoted Zitha having said ‘a cat and a mouse cannot live together’. The
late chief’s faction told the court that having learnt that Zitha did not want
his wife back; they suggested that he responded directly to the elders.
Zitha’s homestead is situated a few metres from the Mantjolo Royal Kraal,
where the elders held the meeting.
They stated that they advised that Zitha should join them so that he could state
his case, but he refused. “I grabbed some keys and suggested that they should
be taken to the police so that the house would be left unoccupied if he refused
to open for his wife. We then proceeded to the elders. However, while on our way
to the royal kraal, Zitha received a call from someone telling him not to worry
because police officers were on their way. He then held on a log resulting in us
dragging him to the royal kraal,” said one of the eight. Police officers later
arrived.
Mandated
They faction stated that the officers of the law advised Zitha to comply with
the instruction of the royal kraal as it was mandated by the Mbabane Magistrates
Court to deliberate on the disputed homestead. “The police officers took the
keys to the police station after both parties had agreed to vacate the homestead
pending finalisation of the matter. However, we learnt that Zitha fetched the
keys on a Tuesday and returned to his homestead,” said the faction of the late
chief. The court observed that the majority of the accused were from
Eluvinjelweni under Chief Mthutha Mncina.
“Do you mean to tell us that you came all the way from Eluvinjelweni to
assault the resident of Mantjolo? What brought you to Mantjolo on the day?”
asked Mbabane Eswatini National Court President Chief Mgebiseni. In response,
the men said they were at the Mantjolo Royal Kraal to celebrate a verdict from
His Majesty King Mswati III, concerning the ongoing dispute between the Ministry
of Housing and Urban Development and the clan. They said it was during the
course of the celebration that Mavuso and her family sought remedy after her
husband defied the court orders regarding their homestead. The eight were found
guilty and were sentenced to five months imprisonment with an option to pay a
fine of E500 each.