‘GAWUZELA’ UK EXTRADITION FAKE NEWS - MINISTER

MANZINI – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla says she does not think the government has ever tried the extradition of former Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane from the United Kingdom.

“I don’t think government has ever tried the extradition. I am not aware of such a move,” said Dladla in an interview with this publication yesterday. Yesterday, the news about Eswatini having written to the United Kingdom (UK) Government seeking assistance on extraditing ‘Gawuzela’ to face charges levelled against him spread like wildfire. The government rebutted the circulating posters as fake news.

Diplomatic

Dladla said her ministry used note verbale through diplomatic channels. When asked what the government was doing to bring Simelane to book as he was declared a fugitive from the law, Dladla said the police and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), if they instructed them to convey the diplomatic message, they would carry out the instruction with ease. She said it could not go through proper diplomatic channels without original signatures. When asked if the two said offices had not instructed them to do this yet, Dladla said that was government’s classified information that she could not divulge.

When sought for comment, Simelane insisted that he was aware that government wanted to extradite him. In an interview with this publication yesterday, he said it was no secret that government would stoop low in pursuit of ‘evil’ plans. Simelane said his main focus remained in the liberation course for the people. “I will keep focusing on what I can do for our people,” he said.

Advocacy

Recently, Simelane said he was in the UK in a quest to spread the word about the human rights violations in Eswatini. He said he was on a global advocacy drive. The former MP fled the country shortly after news about his warrant of arrest made the rounds last year July 25. His warrant of arrest was issued along with those of Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube and Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza. The two MPs were arrested on the said date and they have been behind bars since then. They were charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

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