NTUTHUKO SHOT DEAD EX-EBIS MAN

BY MFANUKHONA NKAMBULE

mfanukhona@times.co.sz

LUYENGO – Themba Tsabedze, the 69-year-old man who was allegedly  shot dead by former Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini, was no ordinary man.

He was a former civil servant.

He held a senior position when he retired from the civil service nine years ago.  Themba Malungisa Andreas Tsabedze worked for the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) as a senior human resources manager. His job description entailed assisting the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in hiring, developing and looking after employees, who included radio personalities and journalists.

He was shot dead on September 7, 2020 at Mhlabubovu alongside another former civil servant, Sikhulu Shongwe, an ex-police officer.  In fact, Tsabedze worked for the Mbabane Government Hospital’s Eye Clinic. He was later transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture to serve as a clerical officer.

He was born on September 6, 1951. 

It is said that the deceased liked quoting a biblical verse that has to do with killing. The verse, which is the scriptural statement of Jesus Christ, is found in John 10:10. The NIV version of the portion of scripture, which Tsabedze liked to quote and impart to his family, in particular his grandchildren, reads: “the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

mourners

The verse was revealed to mourners during a memorial service in his honour held at Usuthu Alliance Church at Khalangilile, Luyengo, near Ntondozi.

The verse was revealed by one of Tsabedze’s grandchildren. He was a staunch Christian affiliated with the Evangelical Church. However, his memorial service was held at the Usuthu Alliance Church because it had a bigger space to accommodate an average number of people and vehicles. The deceased is the son of Mkhuba Matthews Tsabedze and Thulisile Emmily Dlamini. Actually, he was born at Mankayane Government Hospital, and spent his youthful days at his parental home at Velezizweni. He then moved to his current home at Khalangilile. It must be said that he began his elementary education at Mount Hermon Primary School and completed his senior secondary education at Mankayane High School.  He is survived by his wife, Thandi Joyce Tsabedze, three sons, three daughters, seven grandchildren and three sisters. 

exponent

One of his friends said he liked singing, and his favourite mbaqanga singer when growing up was Simon ‘Mahlathini’ Nkabinde, an acknowledged exponent of the deep-voiced, basso groaning style that came to symbolise mbaqanga music in the 1960s.  Notably, the memorial service was peaceful as speaker after speaker did not dwell on the manner in which Tsabedze’s life was taken. The mourners urged his children to remain united, urging them to cast their burdens to the Lord. Those who went to church with him said he liked singing a gospel song titled: “Sivuselele Nkosi Jesu (Revive us Lord Jesus).” He was described as a gospel warrior who fought a good fight and further kept his faith until he died. Representatives from Luyengweni Umphakatsi said they referred to Tsabedze as umphatsi (leader) because of his sound leadership acumen. Tsabedze was shot dead alongside Sikhulu Shongwe, a former police officer, amid a land dispute involving the chiefdoms of Luyengweni and LaMgabhi. According to the charge sheet, Dlamini (Ntuthuko) is alleged to have shot Tsabedze once in the chest with a pistol. He is accused of shooting Shongwe four times in the upper body. He faces two counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder in that he allegedly shot, with intent to kill, Simon Dlamini three times in the stomach and once in the left arm.

The accused, who was remanded back in custody pending his committal to the High Court of Eswatini, is a teacher by profession as he graduated from William Pitcher College in Manzini. He also studied at the Eswatini College of Technology in Mbabane, and is qualified in electrical wiring.

He was running an agribusiness and owned a shopping complex at Mhlabubovu. He is a senior member (umntfwanenkhosi) of the LaMgabhi Royal Kraal.

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