I’M A GHOST, THEY WILL NOT FIND ME - ‘GAWUZELA’

MZINTI -  Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) President Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’  Simelane has declared that those searching for him would not find him because he is a ‘ghost’.

He described himself as a ‘dead man walking’, claiming he died long ago, when emaSwati lost their lives during the infamous 2021 civil unrest that resulted in widespread property destruction and loss of life. “Unfortunately you do not threaten a ghost with death. I long crossed my Damascus moment.” he said. Simelane was speaking yesterday during the SWALIMO prayer event dubbed “The Gathering of the Nation; which was held in South Africa at KaMhlushwa.Simelane shared that he left the country and South Africa for the United Kingdom after receiving a divine instruction, to go out to the world and mobilise against Eswatini.

Challenges

Recounting his journey to KaMhlushwa, he said it was not easy and faced a lot of challenges but did not elaborate on those. Other challenges he had to deal with was the very event, which was initially banned from being hosted in a stadium, then locked out in the second venue, the Holiness Church by the South African police. The SWALIMO event was delayed, after police refused them permission to host in the church stating that  organisers did not have permission to host in the venue. Liberation not fuelled by hate Speaking at the event, Simelane said his quest for the liberation of emaSwati was not fuelled by hatred but love for freedom, prosperity and peace for the nation.

He said this would be achieved through multiparty democracy. “The country is the only country in the world that people are fingered to positions. EmaSwati need multiparty democracy, which they spelt  out in 2018-23 Parliament, where they sent MPs myself, Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube to request that the country be ruled through a constitutional system, where the head of government is elected by the people, who then forms a government,” he said during his speech. He expressed gratitude to those who attended the event and recounted the difficulties he faced, alleging that he had to  dodge would-be assassins, who he claimed, had been hunting him since his arrival. The exiled leader spoke yesterday at his party’s prayer event, which drew over 3 000 emaSwati and South Africans who were dressed in SWALIMO colours of red, blue and white at the Holiness Church hall.

Detail

The were more than 6 000 watching online. His security was ensured by a heavily armed detail of about 20 men. Tensions escalated when a man attempted to breach the security line protecting Simelane but was apprehended in a dramatic display, causing a brief commotion. The interruption occurred just as Simelane finished urging the nation to be resilient in confronting various community issues. The man was forcefully escorted away amid screams from the crowd. The event was attended by a majority of leaders under the Mass Democratic Movement, proved to be a success and lived up to the hype surrounding it on social media platform Facebook. Simelane’s presence marked a turning point for the anxious crowd, many of whom had doubted he would show.

Despite challenges faced by the organisers, the event proceeded smoothly, with threats and sabotage effectively managed, as revealed by Paul Matimela, SWALIMO’s Secretary General. Matimela disclosed to reporters that the event nearly fell through due to alleged sabotage. “We were forced to move the event from the stadium after police informed us that we did not have permission to host it there,” he said. He expressed concern that this information was relayed to the organisers at the last minute, just a day before the event. The secretary general noted that the leadership was in a state of urgency, scrambling to find an alternative venue, and ultimately secured accommodation from a church in the KaMhlushwa area. He added that even during the event, organisers faced frustration when police blocked access to the church on the morning of the gathering, despite prior agreements.

Event

Thanks to the intervention of some members of the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM), the church was eventually opened for the event. However, South African   police (SAPS) maintained a watchful presence, enforcing strict timeframes dictated by security officers. The confusion surrounding the venue reportedly reached Eswatini, causing some attendees preparing attend to the event to learn about the impasse between SAPS and the organisers. SWALIMO believes this confusion contributed to the lower turnout at the event. Some notable figures at event included Monty Nkosi, a freedom fighter based in Washington DC. It was a solemn moment when activist Monty Nkosi saw his mother Ntombi at the event after five years.

Also in attendance was  Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule, Pastor M Khoza, Bonginkhosi ‘IB ‘ Dlamini, Swaziland Democratic Movement Barnes Dlamini leaders of Economic Freedom Fighters Eswatini and others.

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