DRAMA AS CHAMU INVADES FA OFFICES

The iguana before it was taken out of the NFAS building by the Fire and Emergency Service personnel. (Pic:Chris Dlamini)

MBABANE –Whether it was a coincidence or not, an iguana (crocodile-like water lizard called chamu in vernacular) invaded the Sigwaca House yesterday morning just when the NFAS had called a press conference for last Sunday’s altercation over muti beliefs at Somhlolo National Stadium.

The green and yellowish iguana was first seen at around 10.45am climbing a tree by the Sigwaca House by staffers of the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) and Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) in this instance. The NFAS press conference was scheduled for 11.30am. After the lizard, as first believed by the staffers, climbed the tree next to the building, they soon heard some glass scratching on the side of the PLS office and some thought it were mice but upon checking, they found it was the iguana trying to enter the building.

“It then quickly made its way to the PLS entrance but failed before making its way through the entry point to the NFAS and found shelter by the Technical Director’s office door but he was not around to see all this,” said one of the eyewitnesses.
While all this was happening at the Sigwaca House, the magistrates court had also hosted the Mbabane Swallows marshals who started the altercation at the stadium with the police over muti suspicions during their game against Royal Leopard.

The marshals were given E500 bail each and the NFAS press conference was to condemn such behaviour in football. The iguana had them talking at the NFAS and PLS with the latter’s COO John Mazibuko refusing to continue with work while the reptile was still in the building.
“There’s no way I can work with this animal here. Let’s wait until the Fire and Emergency Service personnel arrive to take it out,” he said as Manzini Sundowns’ Mark Carmichael also saw the iguana but walked past to the NFAS offices. The Fire and Emergency Service personnel took their time to arrive until it was time for the NFAS press conference. However, the media personnel asked that the press conference be delayed a little longer until the iguana was out of the building.

Fire personnel eventually arrived at 11.35am and it was then that the iguana started making moves as they approached it with the proper safety clothing as they can be dangerous animals with their tails which they strike with. It was eventually captured after at least three attempts, taken out but before it was thrown back into the nearby Mbabane River where it is suspected to have come from, there was a small debate whether it should be thrown back into the river or handed to the Animal Welfare Society.
In the end, it was agreed that since there was no transport to take it to the Animal Welfare, they should throw it back into the river.

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