Home | News | LET US SEE REPEAT OF JUNE 29 - ‘GAWUZELA’

LET US SEE REPEAT OF JUNE 29 - ‘GAWUZELA’

19/12/2021 17:20:00 Mfanukhona Nkambule

Font size:

MANZINI – Ex-MP Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane yesterday told his movement’s followers and other political party members that there should be a repeat of the June 26-29 incidents.

Some of his followers understood him to mean there should be another chaos in the country. But, he clarified last night in an interview with this newspaper that he meant they should demonstrate across the country in a rather peaceful way. “Kwatsi angishise lesitolo lesilekhaya (I am tempted to set the grocery shop in my community on fire),” one of the people who attended yesterday’s prayer service hosted by Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) at SNAT Centre (Swaziland National Association of Teachers) in Manzini said. Uncharacteristic of a prayer service, there was no mention of forgiveness and reconciliation as speakers took turns at criticising the State leaders, police and soldiers.

Notably, there was also no one who called for fasting and prayers to be dedicated to the enemy as Mathews 5: 44 states: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Serious

It was observably a serious prayer as Bible verses were read and others prayed in tongues. The only thing that was spiritually done for Eswatini was to bind evil forces which allegedly polluted the mind of government leaders. Meanwhile, the ex-Siphofaneni MP told the Times SUNDAY last night that he did not mean people should resort to violence. The former Siphofaneni MP answered questions on what his statement meant or implied by posing a question: “What makes people think that there was only property destruction on June 26-29, 2021?”

In his understanding, he said young people across the country petitioned members of Parliament at their respective constituencies on political demands.
He said there were demonstrations countrywide. He said he told his SWALIMO members and all those who attended the prayer service that they should do things differently. Simelane said he meant they should not give the police and soldiers an excuse for shooting them if they were to loot or burn property.
“I am totally against the burning of properties,” he said.

unison

“To me, June 29 is not only about shops that were looted and burnt. The people of Swaziland (Eswatini) stood up in unison to demand for their liberation.”
Virtually addressing the attendants, mainly SWALIMO members, Simelane implored them to return home and be active on the ground. He said the country should be grounded to a standstill until Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwemphisi MP Mthandeni Dube were released from prison. He said it was obvious that the judge handling the case of MP Mabuza and MP Dube would still be presiding over it beyond March 2022. He said it was clear to him that the country was not prepared for the national dialogue, hence, the refusal to release the two MPs.

demonstrations

About 300 people attended the prayer service, which featured well- known gospel singer and Joyous Celebration member Sphumele Mbambo and M’thobisi Ntshangase of the ‘kanti yini lengay’thola’ fame. He called for demonstrations in all the over 300 chiefdoms in the country so that police would not know where to start stopping the countrywide protests. “Ngeke bati kutsi bacishe ngakuphi (they wouldn’t know how and where they should first stop the protests),” he said.
He said electricity should be ‘cut off once’ so that the whole country was affected. In relation to the electricity statement, he told this newspaper last night that cisha logesi (disconnect electricity) was a phrase coined by the late acting Governor of Ludzidzini Royal Residence, Timothy Velabo Mtetwa, popularly known as T.V.

He said T.V used the cisha logesi phrase to mute people who had exceeded a set time limit for making a submission at the cattle byre during the People’s Parliament. Likewise, he mentioned that he meant they would make sure government’s voice was not heard as they would mute it just as TV did at the cattle byre.

unfair

When addressing the audience yesterday, Simelane said it was unfair of pupils to stand up alone against the regime, with teachers not joining them. “It would also be wrong of the pupils not to join their teachers in the struggle for freedom,” he said. The SWALIMO president called for the establishment of networks throughout the country. Simelane, the former MP of Siphofaneni, whose seat was declared vacant after missing 20 consecutive sittings, said they did not know that police and soldiers would shoot them on June 29, 2021, ‘but now are fully aware of how brutal they can be.’ He said strategies would be devised to ensure they were not hurt even if the security officers were armed with guns.

However, he insisted: “kutawumatsa lijobo (it would be very difficult on the part of the armed forces and their leaders.”) He urged all formations in the country to put aside political differences and work on a strategy and programme to liberate the people of Eswatini. “EmaSwati should come first on the list of priorities and our associations should then follow. I urge you all that we unite against the enemy,” he declared. He said he was wanted for prosecution because he objected to the construction of a new Parliament that was to cost the taxpayer E1.4 billion. The people became angry with government when Simelane told them that police wanted to arrest him for criticising the costs of each of the toilets at the Five-Star Hotel in Ezulwini.

monopolised

He said each toilet would cost the taxpayer E200 000. He said Tibiyo Taka Ngwane was being monopolised yet it was originally a national project. He alleged that gold and diamond were being smuggled out of the country to generate an income for a few people in the echelons of power. Bheki Mamba, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), said all formations should devise a strategy to render the country ungovernable. He said people thirsty for political change should not be ashamed of pushing a stone to the road. He warned against self-destructive deception that the regime was weak, adding that it was still strong, and they have to acknowledge this fact.

He said if it required them to employ a door-to-door strategy to push people to the struggle, so be it. Mamba pointed out that he did not see the significance of the forthcoming national dialogue as the regime was still relaxed and unbothered about their demands. In order to force the country’s authorities to accede to their political demands, he said they should create a situation where they would be the ones wanting the dialogue. “If political parties don’t unite, we will unify them through a programme,” he assured them. Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), said Eswatini was colonised twice – by the British and Dlaminism.

He said it was important that they also attained independence from the Dlaminism just as emaSwati attained it from the British. He blasted Mabulala Maseko, the Minister of Public Service, for his statement that public servants should not participate in political activities.

bear with him

He said they should bear with him because he was still a novice at Cabinet. Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule, invited to minister the Word of God, said he had been loyal to the authorities , but his allegiance shifted on June 29, 2021. Bishop Nkambule said he chose to side with the truth. He said the time of God has arrived.
“Corpses were all over the ground, people were killed and thrown into fire, people were burnt and I can’t side with those who issued orders for the mass killing of people,” Bishop Nkambule said. He said he was aware of a plot to kill him.

“When you kill me, you are actually transporting me to heaven, and the person who kills me will also die and find me there waiting for him,” he said. The bishop comforted Simelane’s wife, LaZwide, for what happened to her husband who is currently in exile. Vikimphi Nhlabatsi, who represented the Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said: “Enough is enough.” He said they were the last generation to be oppressed. He mentioned that SPLM was established on June 17, 2017 to liberate people spiritually and physically. Madzabudzabu Kunene who represented the people who were injured during the civil unrest urged party members to go back to the streets. He declared June 29 as a holiday, and stressed that they would deal with anyone who will go to work on this day. Kunene said it was important to commemorate the death of the people who were killed during the civil unrest.

Music

It was a prayer service that featured gospel music from LaZwide and her back-up singers, Mzwakhe Myeni, GG, and Sphumelele Mbambo, a member of the Joyous Celebration who was in New York last week to worship with Christians there in song. Scara Maziya with his song about witches thrilled the audience. Maziya’s song has it that MP Dube, Simelane and MP Mabuza are witches who are bewitching in the name of Jesus Christ. He said they had a healer whose name is Jehovah. He said there was nothing that was going to harm them. Mthobisi Ntshangase who is based in South Africa also entertained the worshippers before Mbambo came in to steal the show. As usual, she worshipped barefooted, jumped off the stage to mingle with her fans who mobbed her in jubiliation.