PUDEMO ALLEGES ... MLUNGISI POISONED BY ‘YOUNG BOY’ ROOMMATE

MBABANE – PUDEMO has alleged that its exiled President Mlungisi Makhanya was poisoned by a ‘young boy’, who was used by clandestine forces opposed to the organisation’s mission.

In a press conference yesterday, the People’s United Democratic Congress (PUDEMO) leadership avoided to reveal the name of the suspect, who was Makhanya’s housemate, but alleged that he had been used to end Makhanya’s life. The age of the young man was not stated. Makhanya was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, after he was found writhing with abdominal pain in a house that he occupied in SA. The location of the house has not been mentioned, because of the belief that Makhanya is living in exile.

Announced

PUDEMO Deputy President Wandile Dludlu announced that his organisation had analysed the poisonous substance that was used in the attempted murder. He said it was known as organophosphates and is manufactured for pest control. He said the organisation has gathered from close family members that Makhanya is now in a stable condition. “The president, through the medical team, has been stabilised. Though he remains in a very critical condition, we remain indebted to the special medical team which is doing an extremely encouraging and commendable job. They are monitoring his condition closely, to ensure that the president continues to improve.

“We can say the president has been poisoned, as it is an assassination attempt. The poison used is called organophosphates and it is not possible for an ordinary person to procure it from the streets or anywhere. This indeed has assisted us to reaffirm that the people responsible for this is the Eswatini Government, who are the handlers of this young boy who has been used as an agent of an evil intent that seeks to undermine the course of democracy in our country,” he alleged. A SiSwati online publication revealed the name of the suspect, and mentioned that he was a close ally to Makhanya and they spent time together in the house.

The publication claimed that it had details of how the issue unfolded and would release the information in due course, pending the anticipated improvement of Makhanya’s condition.
However, it alleged that the suspect gave Makhanya food that had been laced with the poison. After eating the food, Makhanya complained of stomach pains and rushed to the bathroom. The suspect is said to have then locked the president inside the house and left with his cellphones. Makhanya is said to have screamed for help, until he was rescued by neighbours, who rushed him to hospital. It is alleged that he revealed some of the details as first aid was being administered to him.

Meanwhile, PUDEMO said it is encouraging that Makhanya survived the poisoning thus far, despite that the poison has been described as extremely dangerous.  “It’s a miracle that he has survived more than two hours. Because the president is in the hearts of the people,” said Dludlu. He alleged that he has no doubt that government is behind the attacks, given the history of violent attacked on Makhanya. He quoted an incident in which Makhanya’s home was bombed by unknown people at Malindza, afterwhich he was forced to go into exile. Ever since that incident, Dludlu said there were other related threatening encounters that Makhanya endured.

“We have no doubt in our minds that this is the work of government,” Dludlu alleged. He then alleged that two months ago, an incentive was publicised whereby E200 000 was offered for anyone who would apprehend freedom fighters. “We are very clear that this is a political fight between the oppressed masses, who are fighting for freedom versus government. We want to give assurance that the struggle continues. As Mzwakhe Mbuli puts it ‘God sustains. I am unsinkable’, this struggle is unsinkable,” he said. Also with him at the press conference were PUDEMO Treasurer General Velaphi Mamba, Secretary General Penwell Malinga, and others. PUDEMO was also cynical that the incident comes a few weeks before a planned pro-democracy protest in Eswatini next month, which Makhanya had been spearheading.

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