WE’LL HAVE LAST LAUGH - TERRORISM SUSPECTS

MBABANE – Sibusiso Nxumalo and Muzi Mnisi, who were arrested for terrorism, murder and kidnapping during the civil unrest, say they will have the last laugh.

The pair said they were not afraid of prison. Nxumalo, who is a member of Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) and Mnisi, were arrested early last year and are facing 38 counts. They were at the High Court on Friday for the hearing of their bail application. The accused duo, who were heavily guarded by armed Correctional officers, waited patiently for their matter to be called. However, when they were being photographed by reporters, before the judge stepped in, they went off on a tangent.

Change

They said they were not scared of being jailed. They also said it was a matter of time for change to be achieved in the country. “We will have the last laugh (kutawugcina tsine). It’s only a matter of time. We need a government of the people. We want our own government. Mandela said it always seems impossible until it is done. We do not want to be led by an appointed prime minister, who does not share our pain,” said the pair. When their matter was called, the Crown indicated that it was opposed to their application for bail being granted.  When Judge Maseko told them that their bail application was opposed by the Crown, they responded by saying ‘ok’ or ‘sho’. Court decorum dictates that judges are addressed as Your Lordship or Ladyship.

Nxumalo and Mnisi, according to the Crown, are members of the solidarity forces. They are alleged to have invaded the homestead of Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala and told the people they found there to tell the chief justice to free former Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. They are alleged to have also burnt five houses worth E3.5 million and shot five cows and a calf valued at E84 000, among other damages they caused at the homestead.They are also accused of being involved in the murder and attempted murder of law enforcement officers in different parts of the country.

They are said to be behind the attempted murder of former Kwaluseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso ‘Mabhanisi’ Dlamini. In the indictment filed by the Crown, Mnisi and Nxumalo allegedly attempted to kill umbutfo Fanafana Bhembe. Bhembe was on his way to join the rest of Ingatja on their way to Esikhaleni Selusekwane to cut the sacred shrub, Lusekwane, as part of Incwala Ceremony. He is a member of Inyatsi Regiment. The warrior was shot in the upper abdomen. It was gathered that after the suspects had shot him, they left the scene nonchalantly, assuming that there were no witnesses. However, the sources pointed out that some people had witnessed the incident, alerted law enforcers and described the suspects to them.

According to the indictment, the pair is further accused of the murder of KaZandondo Chief, Prince Mahloma Dlamini. It is further alleged that they also attempted to kill top detective Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane, by shooting him. As per the charge sheet, Nxumalo and Mnisi are allegedly behind the burning of two trucks belonging to Tisuka TakaNgwane. It is further purported that they allegedly set on fire the administration block at Nkiliji High School.

Torching

The accused persons also stand accused of torching heavy plant machinery belonging to Inyatsi Construction (PTY) Limited at Sigombeni Inyatsi Construction depot.The accused, according to the Crown, are also the ones who allegedly fired gunshots at Sigodvweni Police Station. The accused are also expected to answer for the shooting that happened at Dumako Police Post, where a tractor driver was shot dead. They have also been slapped with the charge of burning State-owned motor vehicles which were parked at Pigg’s Peak CTA. After the accused were arrested, the High Court issued an order stopping the Times of Eswatini from continuing to report on the statement that was recorded by Nxumalo.

The order was issued after the national commissioner (NATCOM) of police moved an urgent application where he made a hue and cry about the publication of the contents of the statement. Respondents in the matter were African Echo (PTY) Limited, Times of Eswatini Managing Editor (ME) Martin Dlamini and the Times reporters who had been reporting on the story. In motivating granting of the order, the applicant (NATCOM) averred that the respondents were continuously publishing, circulating or distributing information which related to the ongoing police investigations into the offences committed under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Deposed

Senior Superintendent Sihlongonyane, who deposed to an affidavit, narrated to the court that starting in the second half of 2021 and continuing into January 2023, the country experienced multiple acts of, among other offences, arson, murder of law enforcement officers and terrorism. He submitted that police investigations led to the arrest of six people, including Nxumalo and Mnisi. The investigations, according to Sihlongonyane, were still ongoing.“As part of the investigations, the police compiled a docket in relation to the accused. “The docket consists of statements of witnesses taken by the investigating officers, documentary exhibits, internal reports and memoranda and the investigation diary,” said the senior investigator. It was his contention that the respondent allegedly had privilege over the contents of the police docket.

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