WE’VE PICS, NAMES OF THUGS KILLING CITIZENS - PM

MAPHIVENI – Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini says there is no civil war in the country, but there are thugs whom they have their names and know their places of abode.

He further mentioned that they had their pictures as well. By thugs, he was referring to those responsible for the deaths of others since the unrest started. The PM, who was interviewed after touring some public roads that were damaged by the rains, said emaSwati were not fighting each other but thugs were killing them.

Dlamini said the visiting former South Africa President Jacob Zuma had been misled by the circulating reports on media platforms, insinuating that there was a civil war in the country. Zuma was among the dignitaries of His Majesty King Mswati III during the national prayer service held at Mandvulo Hall in Lozitha on Saturday.

Killing

He emphasised that it was not true that emaSwati were killing each other but there were ‘thugs’ who killed them while at their respective jobs or at certain events. The PM said the ‘thugs’ after killing emaSwati, then issued statements that a dialogue should be held. Dlamini reiterated that the former South African president had been misled that emaSwati were in a civil war, like it had been happening in other countries yet it was not the same situation in the kingdom.

He said what was unfolding in Eswatini was not a civil war but ‘thugs’ were behind perpetrating anarchy.
He shared that government had the names of the ‘thugs’ (who were carrying out the killings) together with their pictures.He said it was unfortunate that when they looked for them at their places of abode, they were not found to be brought to face the law. When asked if he could disclose the identities of the ‘thugs’ and their residential addresses and if they were in the country or elsewhere, the head of government emphasised that they were known, as government had evidence of pictures. He said he could not divulge if they were here in Eswatini or had skipped the country.

“Former President of South Africa uMsholozi has been misled that we are at war or emaSwati are fighting each other yet ‘thugs’ are behind the killing of people. People should know that the ‘thugs’ are known and we have evidence. We know who they are and where they stay including their homes. We have pictures and their names. It is unfortunate that when their homes are visited, they are not found. But government will make sure that they are apprehended and face the law (sic),” the PM said.

Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo said the head of government was offside.Silolo said the former South African president was telling government that labeling the opposition with all ugly names would not help, but dialogue was the answer. The spokesperson further stated that Zuma mentioned all the difficulties they went through in South Africa during the apartheid era, indicating that what helped the Afrikaners were for them to concede and allowed dialogue. People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Secretary General (SG) Wandile Dludlu said his organisation believed in peaceful resolutions for political challenges.

Dialogue

Dludlu said government should be considering the dialogue as a yardstick towards addressing the political impasse.
Meanwhile, our sister publication, The Times Sunday quoted the PM informing the visiting former South African president that ‘thugs’ were killing people. He further stated that thugs and thieves were killing those who were opposing their views. The PM had said the country was committed to a dialogue process but the killings were making it difficult for such a process to start.

“I want to inform you president that it is just a few individuals who are saying they were not present when the current Constitution was crafted and, therefore, they do not want it. We are not at war against one another, but thugs have seized the opportunity and started killing innocent people. Our biggest worry is that what kind of precedent we would be setting if we allow people to kill each other if they want something changed in the Constitution,” he had said.

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