By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: No member of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF)arrested in connection with the ongoing shooting of police officers.

This was confirmed by the SISF Spokesperson when speaking to this Swaziland News on Monday morning.

“We can confirm that no member of the Solidarity Forces has been arrested in connection with the ongoing shooting of police officers. Such false information is meant to intimidate the people so that the police could be seen working trying to control the situation, all our members are safe and the operation is ongoing. What they are trying do now is to arrest members of the public and label them ‘solidarity forces ”, said the Spokesperson whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons.

The Times of Eswatini reported that two people were arrested in connection with the killing of police officers adding that one officer who was killed, Bongnkosi Dlamini asked for prayers not to meet Solidarity Forces on his way to work.

Police Spokesperson Superintendent Phindile Vilakati had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

On another note, the Commander of the Solidarity Forces said the operation was continuing well adding that even the censored media was beginning to acknowledge the presence of Solidarity Forces.

“I read a front page of the Times, they reported that a police officers asked for prayers not to meet Solidarity Forces. So now they know that  Solidarity Forces exist, I thought, the newspaper would say, he asked for prayers not to meet unknown people because they have been attributing the killings to unknown people. Uyabona nawucatseka umuntfu umkhipha lishashadi, leti timphawu tekutsi seliyaphuma lelishashadi”,he said.

The Commander of the Solidarity Forces further warned all police officers not to arrest any of their members to avoid putting themselves at risk. 

“Arrest, torture, prosecute Solidarity and Ground Forces at your own peril. Anyone who will arrest, torture, prosecute or even kill a member of our forces will do so at their own peril because our response to such provocation would not only be firm but it would be decisive,”said the Commander.

The ongoing shooting and killing of police officers and soldiers comes after King Mswati unleashed his security forces to kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.