By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Times Sunday journalist Welcome Dlamini allegedly sent a questionnaire to police Superintendent Phindile Vilakati demanding answers on whether police conducted an investigation into how wanted Siphofaneni Member of Parliament(MP) left the country.

When reached for comments on Monday, Dlamini denied working for the Times Sunday even before this journalist posed further questions, despite evidence in the message sent to Phindile Vilakati suggesting that he was working for the Sunday paper.

Furthermore, Dlamini writes and edit articles for the Times Sunday that are in the public domain.

“I am not working for the Times Sunday but in charge of the Saturday paper, please contact the Managing editor”, he said.

But this publication gathered 

that Dlamini further tried to implicate PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya as an accomplice in assisting  MP Magawugawu to leave the country after the warrant of arrest was issued. 

Unfortunately , the questionnaire was leaked through the police chain of communication.

“Good afternoon Mphephetse.This is Welcome Dlamini from the Times SUNDAY newspaper. We have received information  to the effect that on Thursday at Ngwenya Border Gate an immigration officer reported an incident where PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya presented, for stamping, a passport belonging to MP Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane. Was this finding communicated to the police officers stationed at the border gate? Is there an investigation being conducted to determine how MP Simelane exited the country?

Thank you for your time and cooperation; I look forward to your response” ,reads the questionnaire in part.

Questions were sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said he was never involved in assisting the MP to leave the country but clarified that should any need arise, he would always assist any comrade who faced political persecution.

“I have nothing to do with the allegations contained in the questionnaire by Welcome suggesting that I assisted MP Magawugawu to leave the country. However, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t have assisted if there was a reason to do so.It is my duty as to assist any comrade facing political persecution” ,said the PUDEMO President.

Efforts to reach MP Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane who was one of the Legislators leading the calls for democratic reforms is wanted by the police after King Mswati ordered that three pro-democracy MPs be arrested.