SITHOBELWENI: Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane and other top detectives from the Tingculungculu Investigation Unit survived a hail of bullets fired by members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF).
The shooting manifested at Sithobelweni in the early hours on Thursday,King Mswati later deployed a battalion of soldiers with helicopters and the police to search for the Solidarity Forces, however, by that time, the forces were relaxed at their base station.
Insiders within the Solidarity Forces told this publication that in midst of the shooting, Sihlongonyane and other detectives were injured and ran away leaving behind a man who was then captured by the Solidarity Forces.
Reached for comments, the Commander of the Solidarity Forces confirmed the operation adding that they managed to capture a man who was with the police officers however, he did not disclose whether the man was a police detective or a soldier.
“We are also happy to report that during the operation, the Solidarity Forces were able to capture and have under their control, one of the people who was in the presence of these murderers. We are currently interrogating and gathering more information around what the enemy has been planning. We can just hasten to add that we are quite shocked by the information that we are receiving from one of the people that we strongly believe was with and working with them who is now cooperating with us. This includes information that touches on a hatched plan on some of the leaders of the struggle whose names we will disclose in due cause”, said the Commander.
The Solidarity Forces Commander further disclosed that even though they were unable to kill the officers particularly Clement Sihlongonyane, they managed to send a warning to King Mswati. He said their operation comes after they gathered intelligence information including intercepting communications of the officers who were heading the investigations.
A questionnaire was sent to Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, insiders within the Solidarity Forces revealed that Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane who allegedly killed dozens of civilians during the political unrest remains on their hit list.
“We wanted to host a huge celebration once we managed to kill him, that one is our biggest target and we are still following him,” said the insider.
King Mswati is facing growing calls for democratic reforms, however, the King is trying to silence pro-democracy citizens by unleashing soldiers and the police to shoot and kill civilians.
Soldiers and the police were deployed Sithobelweni and surrounding areas after Solidarity Forces shot the police.