… trial of businessman Zweli Dlamini, accused of plot to destabilise Incwala
MBABANE – Assistant Superintendent Bhekani Shiba has testified that the explosive device allegedly found in possession of businessman Zweli Dlamini, the businessman accused of a plot to destabilise Incwala last year, was obtained in the home of Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini in South Africa.
According to Shiba, Zweli, who is a member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), collected the device from Bongani’s home after communicating with one Samora Ginindza. Bongani and Samora are political activists.
Shiba, who is the Head of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Unit, was giving evidence yesterday in Zweli’s trial. Zweli is facing charges under the Suppression of Terrorism Act and Explosives Act. His matter is before Judge Sabelo Masuku. He is represented by Human Rights Lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi.
Shiba told the court that the investigation established that Zweli allegedly travelled to South Africa on December 19, 2025, and returned to Eswatini the following day. During questioning by the police, the accused allegedly explained that he had been instructed to transport the explosive device from South Africa into Eswatini.
Shiba told the court that two names, Samora Ginindza and Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini, emerged during the interview with the accused. According to Shiba, Zweli identified the two individuals as comrades who had knowledge of the items he was allegedly found possessing.
Shiba testified that he had been serving in the police unit responsible for investigating organised crime, including terrorism, and had dealt with terrorism-related investigations for almost 20 years.
He told the court that he was among the founding members of the unit and had received specialised training in South Africa, as well as attending courses in different countries, including France and, most recently, Panama. He said that, over the years, he had investigated more than 500 cases involving terrorism.
Explaining how terrorism investigations are conducted, Shiba said investigators first had to establish three elements, namely the method, target and motive.
He explained that method referred to the threat or actual use of violence, while the target concerned the person or people against whom the action was directed. Motive, he said, related to what motivated an individual to commit an act of terrorism and could be political or religious, among other reasons.
Shiba said he became involved in the Zweli investigation on December 22, 2025, when he received a telephone call from Superintendent Derrick Makhanya.
He said he was in his office attending to other investigations when Makhanya informed him that police had arrested a person who was allegedly found in possession of explosives, a firearm and ammunition.
According to Shiba, Makhanya further informed him that police had received intelligence suggesting that the explosives were intended to disrupt the Incwala Ceremony.
The person arrested was identified as Zweli Dlamini of Mpolonjeni.
Shiba said he took the information seriously, particularly because the unit had previously investigated two incidents involving the shooting of two members of regiments (libutfo) during the Incwala period in 2022/2023. He said he decided that he and three other officers should travel to the Manzini Regional Police Headquarters to verify the information received from Makhanya.
The officers accompanying him were Inspector Friday Mabuza, Detective Constable Hloniphile Dludlu and Detective Constable Ntokozo Dlamini. Upon arriving at the regional headquarters at approximately 10am, they proceeded to the office of the regional crime branch officer (RCBO), where they found Makhanya.
Shiba said Makhanya briefed them on the investigation as it stood at that time. He requested the police docket and went through its contents before they decided to interview Zweli, who was then being treated as a suspect, said Shiba.
The interview was reportedly conducted in a nearby conference room. Shiba said the purpose was to establish whether the three elements associated with terrorism were present and to determine how Zweli allegedly came into possession of the explosive device, firearm and ammunition.
He said Makhanya introduced the investigators to Zweli and explained why they wanted to question him.
Shiba said he then took charge of the interview, introducing the officers as members of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Unit based in Mbabane.
He testified that he informed Zweli of his constitutional rights in terms of the Judges’ Rules, including his right to legal representation and his right to remain silent.
According to the witness, Zweli elected to answer and say something and waived his right to legal representation because he wanted to explain certain matters to the investigators. He is alleged to have also waived his right to remain silent.
During the interview, Zweli identified himself as a resident of Mpolonjeni and was questioned about how he had acquired the items.
Shiba alleged that Zweli requested access to his personal cellphone to explain certain issues. The device was already in his possession and he was allowed to unlock it, according to Shiba. The witness said the investigators listened to some audio recordings on the cellphone. He testified that some conversations concerned PUDEMO, while another contained information about a target.
Although the target was not specifically identified in the conversation, Shiba said police intelligence had indicated that the Incwala Ceremony was the intended target of the alleged disruption. He further testified that one of the recordings referred to an object described as dangerous and capable of causing harm.
Shiba said the investigators subsequently decided to take the cellphone for examination at the police science laboratory to recover information identified during the interview.
He said Zweli was informed why his Huawei cellphone was being taken and he (Shiba) instructed Detective Constable Thulani Magagula to book it as an exhibit.
During questioning by Advocate Jacob Tloubatla, the witness was asked about the relevance of Samora Ginindza and Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini to the investigation.
Shiba responded that Zweli had described them as comrades who knew about the items allegedly found in his possession.
He said the accused explained that he had been instructed to transport the explosive device from South Africa through the border into Eswatini. According to the account given during the interview, Zweli collected the explosive device from Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini’s home after communicating with Ginindza. Regarding the other items, including ammunition, Shiba said the investigators were informed that these had been collected in Manzini through Ginindza. “The accused made us to understand that the two individuals had knowledge of the items found in his possession and that he had been instructed to carry the explosive device from South Africa, through the border, to Eswatini, from the home of Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini.
“He said he collected the items at the home of IB Dlamini after a conversation with Samora Ginindza. Regarding the other items, such as the ammunition, we were made to understand that they were collected in Manzini through Samora Ginindza,” Shiba submitted.
