MBABANE: Army Commander Jeffery Sipho Shabalala says with the Southern African Development Community(SADC) on their side, they will defeat pro-democracy MPs and those calling for democratic reforms.
This is contained in an electronic evidence sourced from the cellphone of the Army Commander where he was discussing the arrest of pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) with other officials within the State Security Agency. The evidence was obtained in the midst of a high level investigation by this Swaziland News to gather information regarding the shooting and killing of dozens of civilians by King Mswati’s security forces.
One of the security officials seemed worried that the arrest of the pro-democracy MPs might trigger more political tension, the Army Commander said that would not happen with SADC on their side.
“SADC is on our side, we will be victorious”, said the Army Commander.
Other information obtained during the course of the investigation cannot be revealed pending further investigations and gathering of collaborative evidence.
Efforts were made several times to contact the Army Commander who is reportedly bedridden after testing positive to COVID-19, information in our possession suggests that Shabalala was earlier vaccinated by the AstraZeneca vaccine at Phocweni but couldn't receive the second jab.
Speaking to this Swaziland News earlier, the Army Commander said he does not discuss State security issues with anyone outside the security agencies.
Reached for comments, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said it was a stupid mistake for the Army Commander to conclude that the liberation of Swazis was with SADC.
“It is a stupid mistake for Shabalala to conclude that the liberation of Swazis is with SADC, Swazis will liberate themselves. The struggle of the people is not with SADC and as the people have started the process of liberating themselves, they will not go to SADC but SADC will come and beg them to engage in a dialogue”, said the PUDEMO President.
On another note, SADC Troika recently visited the country on a fact finding mission, King Mswati quickly clarified that SADC was not in the mission of facilitating a dialogue.
Army Commander Jeffery Shabalala