GUN COCKED TO CONTROL SUPPORTERS

MBABANE – Police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) had to cock a gun as some of those who were at the High Court to support the incarcerated MPs tried to disturb operations.

Ordinarily, officers of the law are entrusted with the safety of accused persons and the public during high profile cases. The officers of the law ensure the safety by escorting the convoy which transports the accused persons to courts. However, the MPs’ supporters who remained outside the High Court due to space constraints hoisted their fists and whistled while others pushed the motor vehicle that was transporting the MPs; Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza of Hosea and Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi.

This was when the legislators left the High Court premises in a convoy of three cars. The MPs’ supporters further ran after the car that was ferrying the MPs. At the time, armed police officers from OSSU were escorting the convoy. The police officers exercised patience until the situation reached a point where they had to cock a gun in order to restore order.

Shooting

“Why aren’t you shooting at us?” said the MPs’ supporters when they heard the sound of the gun. Some of the MPs’ supporters boasted that they had seen the MPs from the back of the van. Noted was that the legislators reacted from the back of the van when they saw their supporters running behind the car. The MPs’ supporters arrived at the High Court in Toyota Quntums and remained outside the gate due to space constraints inside the High Court. Some of the supporters came from the political formations such as People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), and Economic Freedom Fighters Swaziland (EFFSWA) among other groups.

Some legislators such as Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula and Somntongo MP Dumisani Mbhamali were allowed into the courtroom. While outside the gate, one of the organisers pleaded with the supporters to exercise calm. “Do not block the road because such may result in the police officers chasing us away. They cannot even allow us to be here,” the organiser told the supporters before he proceeded to the courtroom. The supporters then sang at the top of their voices as the convoy approached the High Court. They remained outside the gate where they sang and chanted political slogans.

Adjourned

This lasted until the matter was adjourned.  Noted was that it was the first time police officers allowed the MPs’ supporters to sing outside the gate.
The MPs’ supporters left the High Court after they were addressed by Sicelo Mngomezulu who forms part of the legislators’ legal team. Mngomezulu informed the supporters that the MPs wrote to the King and embassies in their personal capacity as emaSwati who were elected by the people to represent them in Parliament. The lawyer stated that writing to the King and the embassies had nothing to do with the ongoing case.

Mngomezulu further encouraged the supporters to mobilise more people.  “Eswatini needs to be democratised and that is going to happen. Do not lose hope,” he said. Meanwhile, Hosea MP’s brother businessman Bheki Mabuza thanked those who were in court to give the MPs’ moral support. “Be safe as you leave this place because we will need you tomorrow. Do not forget that we have no way to defend ourselves once the police officers start beating us,” said one of the organisers.

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