SOLDIER SHOT DEAD BY UNKNOWN MAN, 4 OTHERS INJURED

LONHLUPHEKO – A 43-year-old soldier, who is a son to the late KaLanga Chief, Mlimi Maziya, was on Sunday night shot dead by an unknown man, who was travelling with others in a grey Honda Fit at Lonhlupheko area.

The killing happened near Gugulethu Bar situated next to the T-junction from Manzini-Simunye and Siteki at around 11pm. Bheki Maziya was an army officer based at the Mbuluzi Army Barracks. At the scene of crime, bloodstains were found next to the Pharmacy verandah where the deceased leaned and died after the shooting.

Bullet

Two bullet holes were also spotted. According to eyewitnesses found at the scene, Maziya was enjoying alcoholic beverages with friends on the day of the incident. One resident said the sedan parked about 50 metres away from where Maziya and friends were enjoying their alcoholic beverages and doors were opened but only one man, who could not be identified, alighted and went straight to where they were seated. The eyewitness alleged that the man started to open fire when he was 20 metres away from the group and aimed at the soldier.
Seeing that they were also vulnerable to be caught in the crossfire, the friends tried to run away, but they were also shot. Four of the friends were shot in their legs. “They were five of them and Bheki died on the spot after the shooter aimed at his chest and the bullet ended his life. The others tried to escape, but one who was seated closer to Bheki was shot in the head and the three others in their legs. The man ran back to his getaway Honda Fit and they sped off,” alleged the eyewitness.

organised

“A car was organised and whisked them to the Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital and the man who was shot in the head was transferred on the same night to the RFM due to the bullet that was lodged in his head. The others were admitted and I gathered that one of them was discharged,” said the eyewitness. Adding, the eyewitness alleged that about six police vans from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) from Siteki Police Station came to the scene and marked the scene with a red tape while some were busy combing the area for clues and evidence. The eyewitness alleged that six bullet shells were collected by the police at the scene. “The workers at the pharmacy cleaned the blood that had stained the wall where the deceased leaned and fell during the shooting. Two bullets hit the wall,” said the eyewitness.

When the KaLanga Umphakatsi was visited, a family member confirmed the shooting and said the incident could be due to family disputes. “This incident happened unexpectedly, but we knew that Bheki was one of the family members who were wanted dead by some of our enemies. It is so saddening that he had to die like this,” said the family member. Phindile Maziya, a sister to the deceased, said the matter had not yet been reported to the army head office and asked that the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Tengetile Khumalo be contacted. Chief Jozane Maziya was called, but his mobile phone rang unanswered. UEDF PRO, Khumalo, did not respond to countless calls made yesterday, same with Whatsapp messages sent to her. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni asked that the army PRO be contacted on this matter.

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