MHLABUBOVU: King Mswati’s Interpreter Sihle Dlamini’s home situated at Mhlabubovu was in the early hours on Friday burned after he mocked the ongoing killing of civilians on Channel S TV Station.
Sihle Dlamini publicly mentioned that the shooting and killing of civilians had nothing to do with democracy but those who died were looting and burning people’s properties.
He was speaking during the People’s and Places show on Channel S when countering sentiments by highly regarded pro-democracy Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule who was critical of Mswati’s regime for killing civilians, the show was hosted by the King’s cousin Qhawe Mamba.
“These people were looting and burning properties that’s why they were killed”, said the King’s interpreter.
When reached for comments, the King’s man requested this journalist to send questions via a text message,however, he had not shared a comment at the time of compiling this report.
Speaking to this publication, Channel YeMaswati TV Director Qhawe Mamba said he was aware that the home of the King’s interpreter was burned adding that it was unfortunate that people were now being targeted to speaking.
“One of my reporters has been sent there to check what happened. It’s very unfortunate that people are now being targeted for speaking, yet by bringing the pro-democracy Bishop and Sihle, we were balancing the story and getting both sides to speaks. As a journalist, you know that better and we are of the view that getting both sides to speak is the beginning of the dialogue”, said the Channel S Director.
Eswatini is in the midst of a political crisis after King Mswati unleashed soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of protesting civilians who were demanding democratic reforms.
SADC Troika Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa later met King Mswati who agreed to engage pro-democracy leaders in a dialogue, however, the harassment, arrest of children in school and killing of civilians by the King’s forces intensify in the rural areas.
King’s interpreter Sihle Dlamini’s home burned.