By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MANZINI: Sakhile ‘Aviwa’ Nxumalo,the Political Educator of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) has been kidnapped allegedly by King Mswati’s police officers.

Nxumalo who is critical of King Mswati and his regime was kidnapped while at Riverstone Mall, Manzini on Tuesday around 12noon.

The kidnapping of political activists and students leaders who are critical of King Mswati and his regime intensified in the midst of a political crisis in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini.

King Mswati, with an alleged intention of misleading the international community committed to participate in a dialogue with those calling for democratic reforms.

But the King subsequently unleashed his security officers to kidnap, torture, arrest and kill political activists.

Celcolo ‘Lolo’ Phiri, a political activist who was with Nxumalo when the kidnapping occurred said the police were travelling in an Isuzu registered JSD 367 BM.

“I was there when the kidnapping happened, it happened just now”, he said.

Phindile Vilakati, the eSwatini police Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments,

 Wakhile Lukhele, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) confirmed that Sakhile Nxumalo was kidnapped at Riverstone Manzini.

“It’s true, Sakhile has been kidnapped by the police”, he said.

On Monday, Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students was abducted by the police while on his way to the Nazarene University where he was studying. 

Maseko who is highly critical of King Mswati was later charged with Sedition, he stands accused of burning Mswati’s pictures.