COMMUNITY FURIOUS AFTER 44 DOGS, 6 PIGS DIE

MANZINI - There is ongoing tension among Nsenga community members following the death of 44 dogs and six pigs from various homesteads. 

In fact, a source close to the matter said the affected families were baying for the blood of some community members whom they believed were allegedly behind the death of the dogs and pigs.

The animals are believed to have been poisoned at different intervals.

The source said the incidents started in March 2020 when four dogs were found dead in the morning in one of the homesteads and they took the matter lightly. 

He alleged that during the month of June 2020, a total of 40 dogs and six pigs were found dead in various homesteads around the area. He also alleged that they also found chunks of boiled beef with an unfamiliar smell, leading to the belief that the meat had been laced with a poisonous substance.

It is believed the suspects placed the meat in the homesteads at night and the dogs ate it. 

Information 

The source said the matter was reported to the police because the information they got as a community was that the meat was allegedly sliced from a carcass that was found dead in the area.

Later on, he claimed that some men were taken in to assist the police in their investigations. He added that the information they got from the police regarding the case, made them believe that the men who were asked to assist the law enforcers, were alleged prime suspects. “However, they had not been formally charged and did not appear in court,” the source said.

He also mentioned that their main concern was that people’s lives, especially children, were put in danger because if they ate the meat, which was suspected to be poisoned, the community would be counting bodies.

The source said they believed that the affected homes were targeted, because the meat was only found in homesteads that had dogs. 

He said they had been making follow-ups with the police regarding the case, but nothing positive was forthcoming as the alleged suspects were not charged.  In that regard, the insider said community members were furious and wanted to take the law into their own hands. He said as elders in the community, they had been trying to reason with angry community members, but of late, they feared that they would not be able to control them anymore.

Confirmed 

On the other hand, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter. She said investigations were still ongoing and the police were monitoring the situation in the area.

On another note, the police mouthpiece said anyone who was not satisfied with the law enforcers’ investigations or the manner in which the matter was being handled should approach the office of the station commander. She warned them against taking the law into their own hands because that would amount to a criminal offence.  

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