Times Of Swaziland: BACEDE DEMANDS E6M FROM GOVT

BACEDE DEMANDS E6M FROM GOVT
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Mbongiseni Ndzimandze on 26/03/2024 09:05:00


MBABANE – Former Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza has issued summons against
government, where he is demanding E6 million.
The combined summons was filed at the High Court by his attorney, Ben J
Simelane, yesterday. In his particulars of claim, he alleged that he was pulled
by his private parts by warders. Mabuza alleged that he was stripped naked by
junior warders, who purportedly assaulted and paraded him in front of their
female colleagues. The former Member of Parliament (MP) also alleged that the
Correctional officers held him by his private parts and twisted them. As a
result, he is demanding E6 million in damages from the Eswatini Government.
Murder
Mabuza was found guilty of terrorism and murder, among other charges, together
with his co-accused, former Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube. Mabuza alleged that:
“I was physically assaulted all over the body, kicked and trampled upon in the
process. The warders attempted to gouge my eyes, especially the right eye.” He
further stated that the warders stabbed him with an unknown object in the
muscles and further suffocated him with a pair of trousers. “I was told that I
will suffer the same fate as Amos Mbedzi, who did not die of a stroke and that I
cannot challenge the King,” averred Mabuza. Government is yet to respond to
these allegations, whose veracity is still to be tested in court.
Depriving
Mabuza accused the Correctional officers of depriving him of positive human
qualities. He narrated that the incident happened on September 29, 2023, at
about 4:40pm. He submitted that a battalion of officers who assaulted him was
allegedly led by Senior Superintendent Sibiya, Chief Officer Shongwe, and
Assistant Superintendent Dlamini. He averred that before the assault took place,
when it was time to have his supper, he was purportedly informed that he would
not have it that evening. According to the former legislator, no reason for such
action was given to him by the warders. “When I demanded answers on why I was
deprived of my supper, a group of about 100 recruits were brought to assault
me,” alleged Mabuza.
Stripped
The businessman further stated that he was stripped naked and all garments were
removed from his body. He told the court that he was allegedly denied food for
24 hours from September 29, 2023, to September 30, 2023, and breakfast on
October 1, 2023.  Mabuza and Dube will appear at the High Court today, where
Judge Mumcy Dlamini is expected to rule if there were extenuating circumstances
in their matter. Extenuating circumstances, are circumstances that diminish the
culpability of one who has committed a criminal offence and so can be considered
to mitigate the punishment.