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POLICE APRIL 12 WARNING!!

12/04/2014 08:53:00 BY ZWELAKHE MOAHLOLI

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MBABANE – A heavy police presence is expected in Manzini today because of a meeting organised by trade unions and the civil society.

The gathering is said to be the commemoration of April 12. One of the organisers of the gathering, Vincent Ncongwane, who is the Secretary General of the Trade Unions Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), said the meeting was expected to be held at St Theresa’s High School, starting at 9am.

Ncongwane said that April 12 was an annual commemoration to reflect on the present and future of the Swazi nation.
Asked if they had contacted the police about the intended function, Ncongwane said: “We had asked to stage a march around Manzini from Jubilee Park to Caritas, but we later informed them that the march had been shifted to St Theresa’s.

“They said there would be pandemonium because April 12 would be busy. And we asked why would April 12 be busy? Why is it different from March 12? The response we got was that it would be busy.
“They then requested that we stage the march after April 25. The question that follows then is will it not also be busy after that day? For us, this is an indication that they are aware that this is a political date.”

He succinctly stated that theywould be staging the march today.
Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta said: “As the police service, we have gathered that there would be a gathering organised by various organisations tomorrow (today).”

As a result of the meeting, Hleta assured members of the public who would be visiting the town today that security would be provided to ensure that everything was in order and normal.
“On behalf of the National Commissioner of Police, we are saying that we will be providing security because we have not been able to meet and engage the organisers, to inform us about the nature of the gathering.

“According to us, this gathering is unlawful,” she stressed.
On that note, Hleta made an appeal to those who would be visiting the town that they should not form part of any illegal gathering. The police PRO did not elaborate on this.

Hleta also appealed to parents of children residing in town and surrounding areas to keep watch on them.
“It has been noted in the past that children tend to join unknown gatherings thinking they would be offered sweets,” she said.

Asked about the gathering, Hleta responded that they had gathered that it was organised by different organisations with the intention of April 12.
Muzi Mhlanga, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), said they would be meeting with other trade unions and members of the civil society to deliberate on what transpired on April 12.