WE DO NOT WANT WAR OR BLOODSHED – BECEDE IN FACEBOOK VIDEO

MBABANE – Hosea Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza said they did not want war or bloodshed.

The MP mentioned this in the video that was recorded during a meeting that was hosted on Facebook and the Crown will use it against him and his co-accused, Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi Inkhundla. Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane is wanted for the same offences Mabuza and Dube are facing. In total, there are four Facebook videos where the accused persons made addresses in various venues and the Crown will use them as part of its evidence.

On Monday, the MPs filed a notice of admission in terms of Section 272 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938, where they confirmed the authenticity of the videos and that they were the people appearing therein. In the video, Mabuza made it clear that they did not want war in the country or bloodshed. “What I want to emphasise is the mandate of those who elected us, we do not want war or bloodshed, but request every liSwati to listen and support our cause because it is not ours, but it is meant to bring changes in the country.

“What made us decide to stand up to request for an elected prime minister on behalf of emaSwati is that we have met and realised that an appointed PM doesn’t become one for the nation. He doesn’t serve the nation’s interests. He finds himself having to serve where he comes from and forgets about the people. Therefore, as pioneers for the people who have sent us, we found it proper that it’s time we speak about this, despite that, doing so will bring challenges in our lives, families and others who support us. We find it apposite to stand up and speak this.

“We won’t mislead you beautiful Swazis. What we are talking about is something we know. As you can see, all those who defend, even if you can read the Sunday times, the ones who are defending and check who they are, they are the ones who benefit through the appointing system (sic),” said Mabuza.

Parliament

The Hosea MP said they were requesting that the Parliament of Eswatini should be similar to other parliaments and be fully-fledged. He said everyone who occupied a political position should do so by the will of the community. “That is our aim. What we have a problem with is that those in power should allow emaSwati to exercise their right to democracy, to elect a person to lead them in their government. What we are saying is that we are requesting an elected prime minister and all ministers should be elected. May I tell you this, I am elected, even if I can jump and be happy and host parties, when I eat, I remember those who elected me. So that’s the first advantage of having an elected prime minister. I have been elected, when you toyi toyi, I want to know what the Swazis are complaining about. It’s the second advantage because when I get there, I will come to know that what you are complaining about is genuine or not.”

Change

The MP continued to say: “There is a lot that I can say pertaining to that, but what I understand very well is that you elected us, we don’t want war, we don’t want bloodshed, we want nothing but we want each and every liSwati to listen to us and support what we are saying because what we are saying is not ours, but to change the country.” Mabuza made an example of a pothole at Malindza that caused an accident involving a kombi in 2013, where about 13 people died. He said the pothole was not sealed until this year when another traffic accident happened.

“It’s still not been sealed. Who is going to seal it because our government can’t go to the people? Our government stays in Mbabane. Government puts a fan next to it whenever it is talking and is resident in Mbabane (sic),” said Mabuza. The MP further said in the video: “It’s my mandate now to go and hunt and come back with the game the people have sent me to go and hunt, which will benefit emaSwati and the economy of the country. So when I have arrived there and encounter challenges, I don’t have a problem to come and tell the Swazis that l am unable to capture the game because there is a bridge that has been placed in front of me.

“So, can you assist me to remove the bridge in order to capture the game? It is the duty of Parliament, government and everyone in authority to legislate on laws that will assist the country. As of now, I will not say what is happening in Parliament, but what made me stand up to fight for what Swazis want is that what is happening is that the same MPs who labelled us sell-outs are the sell-outs themselves,” said Mabuza.

The other three videos are still to be played. The matter is presided over by Judge Mumcy Dlamini. The Crown is represented by Advocate Gareth Leppan together with Principal Counsel Thabo Dlamini and Macebo Nxumalo. Ben J Simelane and Advocate Jacobus Van Vuuren represent the MPs.

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