By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE: Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane sent a hot message to Zweli Martin Dlamini on Tuesday evening, accusing the Managing editor of trying hard to involve him in the ongoing persecution of Students Union President Colani Maseko.

Sihlongonyane who allegedly tortured Maseko at the Manzini Regional Headquarters is wanted by the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) for allegedly killing protesting civilians, he recently survived a hail of bullets by members of the SISF.

In a message sent to the editor after Dlamini published a story accusing Sihlongonyane of refusing to release Colani Maseko’s passport, the senior cop described Dlamini as a very provocative journalist who was trying to incriminate him on matters that did not involve him. He said he read through the media about the torture and was never involved in torturing Colani and wondered why could the police refuse to release a passport.

The senior cop urged the editor to conduct an introspection to ascertain why he was targeting and involving him on such matters.

“Please Zweli liaise with the relevant station for assistance not me. My principle, I always stand firm to whatever I have done in the circumstances there is nothing I can do(sic),”said the senior cop.

On another note, Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini said he was doing his job by holding Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane accountable.

“I am doing my job as a journalist to hold those in power accountable. Colani Maseko was tortured by both the police and soldiers and I want the police to release his passport as a matter of urgency so that he can travel to South Africa for medical treatment. Sihlongonyane is the Head of investigations within the Police Headquarters, he must produce the passport instead of making excuses. If it was not confiscated by him as the Head, he must issue an order to the juniors to release it. A journalist is the voice of the voiceless, Colani is a victim and he cannot approach those in power and demand his passport but a journalist can do that. I will make a follow-up until the passport is released,”said the editor.

Colani Maseko was recently tortured by Mswati’s soldiers at a river next to Engabezweni Palace merely for being critical of the King’s regime and demanding justice for University students who are being denied scholarships and or allowances.