Home | News | FISHERMAN FINDS 4 GUNS, 38 BULLETS AT LUPHOHLO DAM

FISHERMAN FINDS 4 GUNS, 38 BULLETS AT LUPHOHLO DAM

24/08/2022 09:19:00 Mbongiseni Ndzimandze

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MBABANE – Fishermen gather and sometimes camp at Luphohlo Dam to catch fish, but one of them made a different catch when he discovered a plastic bag with guns on Saturday.

The fisherman was looking for a plastic bag in a forest situated near the dam, when he made the shocking discovery. Luphohlo Dam is situated on the outskirts of Mbabane en route to Mhlambanyatsi. According to a source, when the fisherman opened the plastic bag, he discovered that there was something wrapped in a cloth. Lo and behold, upon unwrapping the cloth, he discovered that inside were four brand new firearms. The firearms, two pistols and two revolvers, were discovered inside the plastic bag with 38 rounds of ammunition.

Handguns

Pistols are handguns with one or more stationary chambers while revolvers are handguns that use multiple rotating chambers. The guns were neatly wrapped in a cloth inside the plastic bag which had been hidden inside the forest. It was reliably gathered that upon making the discovery, the fisherman called some of the residents who have homes next to the river, to come and witness. “It was then agreed that police should be called and one of the residents dialled 999. When the police arrived, they took the plastic bag containing the guns with them and the person who made the discovery recorded a statement,” said the insider. A visit was yesterday made to the dam and a number of fishermen were found. Some confirmed to have heard about the discovery but expressed their worry. One of them stated that on the day in question, he heard gunshots coming from the thick forest but did not see anyone there; he only saw some cars driving at high speed on the road, which is situated a stone throw from the dam.

He said the discovery of the guns had instilled fear in them as they sometimes camped near the dam so they could catch fish during the night. “It was the first time that guns were found in this place, as usually we find knives and pangas. This place is usually visited by people who come to perform rituals, but it is now clear that even people with criminal intentions also utilise the thick forest next to the dam,” said one of the fishermen. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer, Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the matter. Inspector Mnguni further stated that police were still investigating and no one had been arrested so far. She highlighted that the firearms were taken by the police. Meanwhile, about 16 people were found in illegal possession of firearms in the month of February and beginning of March this year.

Increase

Among the firearms were pistols and shotguns, which were either seized during raids or reported to the police. This is an increase from last year’s record, where 10 firearms were reported to have been confiscated in the same month. It is worth noting that the unlawful possession of guns happens at a time when there is a spate of arson attacks in the country and shootings, which have led to injuries and deaths. Consequently, there have been growing concerns, especially within the security services, in light of their personnel being targets of shootings. It was gathered that the concerns were that there were illegal firearms which had been brought into the country and were being used to target them.

One of the most recent cases of people found in the possession of guns is that of three people, who were rounded up last Sunday night during a police raid in Bhunya. The trio was apprehended during a police stop and search operation, as they were found in illegal possession of a firearm, which was in the boot of the car they were travelling in. It was gathered that the vehicle that they were travelling in was stopped at LaMgabhi, whereupon it was searched by police officers who in turn found the illegal firearm. The trio apprehended is aged 27, 29 and 59 years and was charged with illegal possession of firearms. According to impeccable sources, the trio was travelling in a taxi when they were arrested. Their arrest was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati.

Another case is that of an elderly woman, Maria Tobhi Tfwala (63), together with her daughters Sijabulile Nobuhle Dlamini (32) and Dumsile Lungile Dlamini (23) of Mphini, who were allegedly found in the possession of a black pistol with a scratch at Magevini. This publication reported at the time that police were in search of the elderly woman’s son when they found the pistol. The trio was also purported to be harbouring one Mandla ‘Spikiri’ Dlamini by giving him a place to stay, while allegedly knowing that he had committed an offence or that he was sought by the police.

Charged

They appeared before Magistrate Lucia Lukhele at the Matsapha Circuit Court. The accused persons were charged with two counts under the Arms and Ammunition Act and contravening the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. The sisters were each granted bail set at E4 000, while the elderly woman was kept out of custody on her own recognisance. Similarly, a 17-year-old boy of LaMgabhi in March 2022 was arrested for pointing a black Astra pistol at *Simo. The pistol that the minor was found in possession of was said to have been unlicensed.
Meanwhile, two women by the names of Zinhle Fikelephi Dube (27) and Jabu Thuleleni Dube (59) of LaMgabhi were charged for contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act, for allegedly being found with a black Atsra pistol with serial number 2887B, while on board a black Honda Fit. The pair was granted bail set at E1 000 each.

In the same breath, there was a reported shooting that led to the death of a member of the security forces. Bheki Maziya, who was a member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), died on the spot after being shot while four people that were with him were rushed to hospital. This shooting, however, was not linked to the political turmoil that is ongoing.
The shooting was subsequent to a shooting of a vehicle that was transporting security personnel at Kwaluseni OK Foods two weeks earlier. During the shooting, three people were shot including a minor, by unknown men.

Targeted

It was said the gunmen had targeted the vehicle which was transporting His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) personnel and a police officer. The police in their raids were said to be looking for weapons and other items that could be used in the commission of criminal acts. There have also been allegations of illegal firearms being used when engaging in these attacks. On the morning of February 2, 2022, there were two arson attacks resulting in E2.2 million damages. The arson attacks targeted a construction site belonging to Inyatsi Construction at Hhelehhele, where heavy plant machinery belonging to sub-contractors was reduced to rubble. In the same morning, six vehicles were extensively damaged while five were partially destroyed following an arson attack at the Swaziland Association of Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (SACRO) premises, where workshops are leased to small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs). The arsonists were reported to be carrying assault rifles when they descended at the compound.