8 MEMBERS OF MNISI CLAN FACTION ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT

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.

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