Times Of Swaziland: COPS, WARDERS,  SOLDIERS RAID  LAZWIDE, NGOMA’S HOMES

COPS, WARDERS,  SOLDIERS RAID  LAZWIDE, NGOMA’S HOMES
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Sabelo Ndzinisa on 29/06/2024 07:56:00


SIPHOFANENI – Drama unfolded yesterday morning when the country’s law
enforcers raided homes of Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Nomalungelo
LaZwide Simelane and former Senate Deputy President Ngomuyayona Gamedze, under
unclear reasons.
The raids, according to information gathered by the Eswatini News, happened in
the early hours of yesterday morning, where armed police officers accompanied by
soldiers and warders are said to have invaded the homes of the two mentioned
politicians unannounced and without any search warrants.
Snatching
They are alleged to have not only failed to produce search warrants when asked
to do so, but are accused of  allegedly forcefully snatching away MP 
LaZwide’s cellphone from her hand when she tried to record the incident. 
According to the MP, the officers were not happy that the Siphofaneni legislator
was taking pictures, as they were conducting the search and are said to have
deleted the pictures after forcefully taking the cellphone from her. It has
further been established that over 20 officers were part of the raids, while a
helicopter was also spotted patrolling the Siphofaneni area during that period.
Rudely
The invasion by the officers at the MP’s homestead is said to have caused
terror among the children that were allegedly rudely forced to wake up from
their beds, as early as 4am.
Upon seeing the officers armed with guns, some of the children are said to have
taken to their heels before finding refuge in another house inside the compound,
in fear of the unknown.
Road-block
Interesting to note, is that soon after the raid, which is said to have lasted
for over an hour, a heavy road-block was mounted along the route leading to the
MP’s homestead, where cars passing by were searched. Noteworthy, is that
officers from the three security forces conducted the roadblock. However, Acting
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Nosipho Mnguni made it clear
that the raids in Siphofaneni were not targeted at the two mentioned
politicians.“People should not be misled to believe that the raids were only
conducted on the two (LaZwide and Ngomuyayona) because other homesteads were
searched as well.“There is nothing sinister about the raids because we never
announce them to the public anyway,” Mnguni stated briefly. The police
communications officers could not comment on the concerns that the raids were
conducted without search warrants, which is contrary to what was required by
law.
Disappointment
The Station Commander at the Siphofaneni Police Station was also asked to
comment on the raids, but he referred such inquiries to Mnguni. Some of the
residents at KaMkhweli, where LaZwide resides, registered their disappointment
at the raid, pointing out that it was deliberately staged to instil fear. “The
children were made to go through the trauma of seeing soldiers carrying guns
inside their home. “It is also disappointing to note that the officers could
not produce search warrants when asked to do so, yet they continued to turn
things upside down in the houses they entered. “I feel pity for the family,”
one resident, who asked to remain anonymous said.