MBABANE: William Dlamini, the National Commissioner of Police has advised wanted Siphofaneni pro-democracy Member of Parliament(MP) Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane to hand himself over to the nearest police station.
This comes a few days after this Swaziland News exposed how King Mswati threatened to fire the National Commissioner for delaying the of arrests of MP Simelane and two other pro-democracy MPs in Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube yet he had long issued that order. This is contained in an electronic evidence where the King allegedly blasted the Police Commissioner and the then Acting Prime Minister during a secret meeting at Hlane Royal Residence.
As per the investigative report by this publication, two MPs were subsequently arrested on Sunday while the police are still looking for the Siphofaneni MP, the pro-democracy Legislators are facing terrorism charges.
William Dlamini was quoted by the State owned radio on Tuesday confirming that 697 Swazis including MPs were arrested by the police in connection with the political violence that erupted during the protests.
“Police National Commissioner William Tsintsibala Dlamini advises MP ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane to hand himself over to the nearest police station as a warrant of arrest has been issued”, the State owned radio said on Tuesday, quoting a statement from the National Commissioner.
Court papers seen by this publication suggest that the Siphofaneni MP has been labelled as a fugitive of justice by the police and or prosecutors, their warrants of arrest were issued on 8th July 2021, however, insiders disclosed that the arrests were delayed for political as Troika was in the country on a Fact Finding Mission.
On 07 July 2021, this publication exclusively published an article exposing that the King has issued order to arrest the MPs, this was quickly refuted by Police Spokesperson Phindile Vilakati who rushed to the National radio to deny the reports.
But now, court papers suggests that indeed, warrants of arrest were subsequently signed by Nhlangano Magistrate Florence Msibi on the following day, 08 July 2021.
On or around April 2021, the investigation unit of this Swaziland News obtained an electronic evidence that exposed how Jeffery Shabalala, the Army Commander and other State security agents were plotting to assassinate MP Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane and Bacede Mabuza including the editor of this publication whom he said were a threat to the authorities. A separate investigation later uncovered that King Mswati issued an order to arrest the MPs who are leading calls for democracy in Parliament.
On 15th June 2021, the Siphofaneni MP confirmed through a public statement that indeed he also received information about a plot to assassinate him, thereafter, police were deployed to monitor his movements at Phuzumoya under Siphofaneni iNkhundla.
On 26th June 2021, police followed the MP in the early morning hours and subsequently blocked him from addressing his followers at Siphofaneni Inkhundla who had come to deliver a petition in demand for democratic reforms.
Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Simelane