Times Of Swaziland: COPS DECLINE TO ATTEND TO ARSON ATTEMPT AT SENATOR’S HOME

COPS DECLINE TO ATTEND TO ARSON ATTEMPT AT SENATOR’S HOME
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Mbongiseni Ndzimandze on 20/07/2022 08:07:00


MBABANE - With the increase in the killing of police officers, officers from
Lobamba Police Station on Monday afternoon reportedly declined to go and attend
to an incident at the homestead of Senator Mkhululi Dlamini in fear of their
lives.
According to an insider, the senator went to the police station in the afternoon
on Monday to report a burglary and attempted arson at his place. This was after
he had received a message from his mother while he was in Parliament, that there
were people who had broken into his house and were also attempting to burn the
homestead which is situated at Hhukwini. In Parliament, the senator was making
submissions on the killing of State security agents.
Confirmed
In an interview yesterday, the senator confirmed to have visited the police
station only to be told by the law enforcers that he should return the following
day since they would not be able to attend to the incident on Monday as it was
late. This was in the evening. Dlamini said the officers he found at the police
station told him that they would not be able to go to his homestead to attend to
the matter as it was already late and that they feared that they might be shot
in the event they went there.  He said the police told him that, “Sekuhlwile,
besaba kutsi batabadubula nabehla baya lekhaya.” The senator said the law
enforcers then told him to return to the police station the following day.
It was reported that the police then called someone they knew in the area to
look into the matter. Dlamini went on to refute the reports that his homestead
at Hhukwini was burnt. Instead, he said there was an attempt to burn it by some
burglars. The politician narrated that he was in Parliament going about his
duties when he received a message from his mother that there were people who
were attempting to burn their homestead.
“I was going to the toilet when I saw the message sent by my mother. I then
went to the police station to report the matter. It is not true that I left
Parliament in a rush after having been told that my homestead has been burnt,”
he said.
Invaded
Dlamini said the people who invaded his homestead were six and they stole, among
other things a microwave and other household items. He said after having
committed the offence the burglars attempted to burn the homestead, possibly to
conceal evidence but their attempts were unsuccessful as only firewood within
the homestead was burnt. He said one of the intruders was caught by community
members who then assaulted him but he stopped them. Chief Police Information and
Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that the
senator reported a case at the Lobamba Police Station on Monday. Vilakati said
the police officer who attended the senator communicated with some people at
Hhukwini leading to the apprehension of one of the suspects, through community
policing, after the others escaped. She said there was collaboration between the
community and the police. “We attend to the scenes at night where possible, we
also consider the security measures,” said Vilakati.
Answers
The incident happened at a time when Senator Dlamini (Mkhululi) and other
senators demanded answers on what action government was taking to condemn the
killing of security agents and restore order in the country. It was before
Senate proceedings on tabling of reports and Bills began when Senator Dlamini
raised a point of urgency, stating that there was a predicament that befell
emaSwati, affecting the very core of livelihoods. “I would like to hear;
without compromising issues of national security, what is government doing to
condemn the killing of security forces members?” he queried.
Dlamini further asked government what it was doing to ensure that order was
restored. He went on to ask what assistance and assurance government was
providing to ensure that those who were affected while on duty continued to go
to work. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku said what was happening was a
culture of violence and atrocity.  “This is an unfortunate culture of extreme
violence. Nothing can exceed what is happening. We are talking about attempts
and killings of security forces,” he submitted.
Killings
The DPM added that it was becoming a norm to read in newspapers about the
killing of men, women, and children alike. He said it was a bad spirit. Senator
Prince Hlangabeza asked when the premier would organise a caucus for politicians
to come up with strategies to deal with the violence. He asked to what extent
and whose death would make them realise that this was a serious issue that
required parliamentarians to caucus. Senator Isaac Magagula was of the assertion
that there was a group of people who were hellbent on lunging the country into
an abyss. Despite being told that the environment was not conducive for
dialogue, Magagula said they continued with attacks unabated.He asked what plans
were there to capacitate intelligence structures to ensure that they were ahead
of these people, who he referred to as bobhabuli.
Senator Ngalonkhulu Mabuza said he was tempted to believe that the culprits were
not emaSwati. He also mentioned that at this rate, no one was safe from the
violent attacks. He said it was disheartening that the security agents who had
died left behind small children. He emphasised that something ought to be done.
Meanwhile, government said it believed that the firearms used in the killings
came from outside the country. It is also believed that they come from a liSwati
who resides in neighbouring South Africa.
Disclosed
Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Dlamini disclosed this to senators after he was
asked where the increasing number of weapons used in killing emaSwati, including
security forces, came from. It was Senator Chief Zabeni Shiba who raised a
concern on the rise in the use of firearms in the country. The senator mentioned
that as an authority in his area, he was bestowed with the responsibility to
grant constituents permits to own gun licences. He asked the PM if it were the
people in the areas who they granted permits to, who were contributing to the
abuse of weapons in the country, leading to the loss of lives.
“Tell us, honourable prime minister, if it is these people so that we stop
granting them the licences,” he submitted. In response, the premier said:
“Some of the guns came from outside the country. There is reason and
information to that effect. We know how they were taken inside the country; from
who; and how. This is available information but the names will not be revealed.
Nonetheless, there are others whose names will be revealed and they are wanted.
It is only a matter of time that they are told that they are thugs.”
Security
Meanwhile, the PM stated that the kingdom was governed through a Constitution.
He pointed out that if he had all the answers then he would be lying.
Nonetheless, the premier noted that this issue raised had security aspects and,
therefore, he could not divulge in a public forum, how security forces were
capacitated in things such as dogs. He said this could only be revealed in a
caucus. On strategies that government had to capacitate intelligence, the PM
stated that he could not outrightly state but he was aware something was being
done. He said although nothing seemed to have been done, he assured the senators
that something was being done.
Dialogue
The premier added that dialogue could not be forced by violence. Instead, he
said it was negotiated. The PM also highlighted that they were not certain even
if when the dialogue was organised under the current situation, if those in
attendance would be those who were terrorising and killing people. Even then, he
said it was unknown what the people would say, as statements would be recorded
and they would be victimised and terrorised for their differing points of view.
“Unless we call the culprits, there is nothing that the nation can say,” he
told the senators.