MBABANE – “I never laid a charge against the pastor.”
This was said by Thulani Stalin Tsela during cross-examination, following his testimony concerning Mbuluzi Evangelical Church Pastor Joseph Dlamini, who is accused of assaulting him in full view of the congregants.
Tsela, who is also a manager at EswatiniBank, Big Bend Branch explained that he only recalled the police arriving promptly at the scene to take his statement.
He expressed that he did not want to believe that the case had been initiated by a member of his faction, as the pastor belongs to the faction currently engaged in court battles with the AEC Executive.
On the day of the alleged assault, an incident Dlamini has denied, Tsela told the court that he visited the Mbuluzi branch at the instruction of the executive. He said the purpose of his visit was to inform the congregants about the suspension of the resident pastor from his pastoral duties following alleged misconduct, which was in breach of the church’s constitution.
Tsela submitted that he and his companion, Ndumiso Mavuso, who is also from the executive, were well received and recognised by the programme director, who further introduced them upon their arrival during the course of worship.
“The atmosphere was so calm that Dlamini even shared the Word of God in our presence,” he said.
He added that the trouble began when Mavuso requested the congregants to remain seated, as there was a message from the executive. He stated that Dlamini, who was still on the pulpit, ordered the congregants to leave, asserting that no one had the right to keep them waiting after he had finished preaching.
“He also reminded the congregants that he was the resident pastor. I supported Mavuso, only to be met with harsh words, as Dlamini, in his own words, shouted ‘unenkhani’ while descending from the pulpit,” Tsela told the court.
He testified that as he looked back, Dlamini struck him with a severe blow to the left side of his face. Tsela explained that he managed to block a second fist also aimed at his face.
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