By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: A Correctional Services vehicle was caught secretly filling petrol at Sidvwashini Engen after an order was issued allegedly by King Mswati to burn Hardwares belonging to arrested pro-democracy Member of Parliament(MP) Bacede Mabuza.

The vehicle with registration numbers GSD 187 PR filled the petrol about 300 meters away from Sidvwashini Baceth Hardware that was burnt on Wednesday night.

Bheki Mabuza, the brother to the arrested MP pleaded with Swazis not to burn properties belonging to their family adding that as brothers they supported each other.

“We want to appeal to the public to stop burning properties belonging to our family, as brothers we support each other”, he said.

But royal insiders revealed that the order to burn the Hardwares belonging to the MP was issued by Mswati with the intention of destroying the businesses of the freedom fighter.

WhatsApp messages in possession of this publication suggest that before the burning of the property on Wednesday, the issue of destroying Bacede’s Hardwares was discussed at the highest level within the State security agencies.

In the messages, Jeffrey Shabalala questioned why Bacede’s properties were not burnt adding that this meant the people who were destroying properties were known to the MP.

Reached for comments, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said as a movement, they had always known that it was security officers who were burning structures in the country so that they can paint the pro-democracy movement black.

“Government issued an order to filling stations to stop selling petrol through containers, its only them who are able to buy petrol in containers. We want to state categorically that it is not only Superintendent Zulu who is burning structures in the country but there are many other officers who were assigned to do this. When Bacede’s Hardware started to burn, the fire fighters controlled and stopped the fire outside and the hardware continued to burn inside”, said the PUDEMO President.

Phindile Dlamini, Commissioner General of His Majesty’s Correctional Services had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political chaos after King Mswati allegedly unleashed soldiers and the police to shoot and kill protesting civilians who are demanding democratic reforms.