MBABANE: Magistrates are now reluctant to sign warrants of arrests as the shooting of police officers who allegedly killed civilians intensify in this tiny Kingdom.
Four(4) security officers including a soldier have been shot and killed after the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF)vowed to protect civilians by targeting Mswati’s security officers.
It has been disclosed that in the midst of the ongoing assassination of police officers, some Magistrates refused to sign politically motivated warrants of arrests fearing for their lives.
Reached for comments, the female Commander of the Ground Forces urged Magistrates to continue conducting their duties in accordance with the law adding that those who are independent won’t be targeted.
“Magistrates must continue doing their job and sign warrants of arrests if they are convinced that a crime has been committed. We won’t target independent Magistrates who conduct their duties in accordance with the law but we will deal with those who take orders from the authorities and persecute Swazis merely for being pro-democratic. Asisukeli muntfu tsine, phela umtsetfo must still be upheld, ngeke si-groome live letigebengu nekubola in the future. Mantji lowenta lokungiko akachubeke, kodvwa lowenta ngekutsi utfunyiwe noma ufuna kujabulisa bani, sinaye shaca!”, said the female Commander of the Ground Forces.
Reached for comments,Lucky Lukhele,the Spokesperson of the Swaziland Solidarity Network(SSN) applauded the Magistrates who were reluctant to sign the arrest warrants.
“For years, the judicial system has been used against the people and we applaud the Magistrates who are now reluctant to sign warrants of arrest. We hope the police will do the same and drop the guns”,said the Solidarity Network Spokesperson.
On Monday, the Times of ESwatini reported that Magistrates were now reluctant to sign warrants of arrests citing security concerns, amid the spate of arson attacks and assassinations of security officers.
The shooting of police officers and soldiers intensified after Mswati ‘refused’ or delayed to engage those calling for democratic reforms in a political dialogue, while unleashing soldiers and the police to shoot and kill dozens of civilians.
Magistrates now reluctant to sign warrants of arrests.