COPS DECLINE TO ATTEND TO ARSON ATTEMPT AT SENATOR’S HOME

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.

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