LAWYER DISMISSES CORRECTIONAL ALLEGATIONS ON MPS’ BEHAVIOUR

MBABANE – “There is none such as this has not been brought to our attention.”

This was said by the legal representative of the two legislators, Ben J. Simelane. He dismissed the allegations by His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) and said if the Hosea Constituency MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and his co-accused, Ngwempisi Constituency MP Mthandeni Dube, had engaged in such behaviour, they should have been charged using the internal processes of the facility. “There is no such as nothing has been brought to my attention,” the senior attorney said. Worth noting is that offenders, while in custody, can be charged and taken to a court of law if they engage in unlawful behavior.

On Thursday, the legislators filed an application to compel the Commissioner General of HMCS, Phindile Dlamini, to produce them for medical examination at Manzini Clinic. MP Mabuza was captured at the Manzini Clinic by Eswatini News at around noon. Leading to this, in his application to be taken to the hospital, Mabuza and Dube claimed that they thought the Correctional officers wanted to kill them. The Correctional officers who allegedly assaulted the MPs on Thursday morning, according to MP Mabuza were uttering the words; ‘iso ngeso’ when assaulting them. He described their attack by the warders as an act of cowardice. Narrating his side of the story in an affidavit for the application to be taken to a medical facility, MP Mabuza said he was in his cell with MP Dube when they were attacked by several Correctional officers. He said the warders turned off the lights and allegedly began assaulting them heavily.

Injured

“The unlawful exercise went on for a very prolonged period such that we were both severely injured,” MP Mabuza told the court. He stated that when he enquired as to why they were being assaulted, he did not get an explanation. The MP pointed out that he seemed to have infuriated the warders by asking them why they assaulted them as they allegedly continued to assault them. “I am currently feeling severe pain all over my body, especially around my ribcage and, therefore, I am desirous to have myself produced for medical attention at Manzini Clinic. I state that I am currently experiencing nose bleeds and the second applicant’s (MP Dube) eye was severely injured.  “We were heavily assaulted and during the course of same, the designated juniors of the first respondent (commissioner general) were making utterances to the effect that ‘iso ngeso’,” MP Mabuza narrated.

The legislator said he had serious apprehension that his life was in serious jeopardy. According to MP Mabuza, as the assault went on for a long time, he thought the warders intended to kill them. He submitted that he could barely move and he felt like his limbs were dislocated. “I hasten to add that the injuries were severe and inflicted in a brutal manner with the sole intention of decapitating and/or taking our lives. I state that the assault was unjustified and an act of cowardice perpetrated by the first respondent and/or its designated juniors solely to harm us. There has been no indication on the part of the first respondent to assist ourselves medically. Thus we fully comprehend that the assault was wilful and meant to harm ourselves and further undermine our bodily integrity,” said MP Mabuza. MP Dube filed a confirmatory affidavit aligning himself with MP Mabuza’s submissions. They argued that the matter was urgent. The Crown did not oppose the MPs’ application.

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