3 GUNMEN INVADE ARMY CAMP, SOLDIER SHOT DEAD

PIGG’S PEAK – Another member of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) was shot dead yesterday morning.

The soldier, aged 55, was reportedly shot dead by three unknown armed men who are said to have attacked the UEDF camp at Bulembu, yesterday at around 9am. According to sources close to the matter, the trio of gunmen first shot the deceased; they then tried to shoot another but failed. The assailants then immediately fled the scene. The sources disclosed that the trio invaded the army base, one armed with a rifle and the two armed with pistols. They are said to have sneaked into the army base, shot the soldier dead and tried to sneak into the area where army weapons are kept. It could not be ascertained how many soldiers were at the camp in total.

Ammunition

“It appeared as if they knew the set-up at the army base because the other soldier met them while they were seemingly going to steal guns, where the ammunition is kept, at the army base,” said a source. It could not be confirmed if any weapons were taken by the gunmen. Bucopho at Bulembu, Gcina Msibi, confirmed having heard of the soldier who was shot dead.
Sources at Bulembu highlighted that members of the UEDF were dispatched to the area for the better part of yesterday, where they were patrolling the area. It is unclear why the unidentified gunmen targeted the army camp, but sources also claimed that the attack could be politically motivated and that they wanted to steal guns.

The name of the soldier has been deliberately withheld as efforts to get hold of his family were futile. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the matter. “We do have a report of a 55-year-old man who was shot dead,” she said briefly. UEDF Public Affairs Officer 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo also confirmed the incident. However, she said her office was still awaiting a datailed report from the battalion in charge of the operational area.

Battalion

In December 2022, unknown gunmen opened fire at Zibonele Army Camp. The camp is situated near Eswatini’s boundary with South Africa and it is an area usually used by dagga dealers to smuggle dagga into the neighbouring country. Sources revealed that there were several gunshots heard by residents of the area, starting from around 8pm. During a visit to the area, a single tent was found pitched, surrounded by a thicket. Though sources claimed that during the exchange of gunfire, the tent was riddled with bullet holes, when this reporter arrived at the camp, the tent was found intact. It could not be ascertained if a new one had been pitched, as none of the soldiers present wanted to entertain the media. There were no casualties during this incident. In May 2022, a soldier, popularly known as Me Dlamini, was killed by unknown people at New Village in Manzini. At Mathangeni, a 49-year-old soldier was also shot in the stomach by an unknown man at about 8pm.

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