MBABANE: After the death of Chief Prince Mahloma of ka-Zandondo, a Chief has pleaded with members of the Solidarity Forces not to invade his community and kill him.
The Chief based in the Lubombo region sent a message and asked this journalist to inform the Commander that he was pledging support on the calls for democracy and would find ways to fund the underground activities of the Mass Democratic Movement(MDM).
“I am pleading with the Commander of the Solidarity Forces not to invade my community and kill me, I support democracy. To prove that I support democracy, I am even pledging financial support for their activities as they work towards liberating us.I don’t want to be known, only you as a journalist must know this,” said the Chief whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons.
Members of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF) invaded ka-Zondondo in the early hours on Saturday and killed Chief Prince Mahloma.
It is alleged that some Chiefs are using their traditional powers to oppress the people by threatening to evict families of those calling for democratic reforms.
On another note, it has been disclosed that some Chiefs refuse to release stamps and or sign scholarships forms for young people who are active in fighting for democracy.
Reached for comments, the Commander of the Solidarity Forces said they welcomed the decision by the Chief to support democracy but warned that supporting the calls for freedom should not only be in words but action.
“It is time for every Swazi not only Chiefs to demonstrate whether they stand with the people or the oppressor. This is a period of grave injustice where innocent Swazis have been killed and were killed over the years by royal supremacists particularly, after the 1973 Decree. Ordinary Swazis have been killed without any recourse either from courts or from the international community.We have taken a resolute decision that if our efforts fail to free us at least our blood must free us.We welcome the decision by the Chief but we want to see action not just words. As for the rest of the Chiefs who have remained silent, when we see them, we see Chief Prince Mahloma,” said the Commander of the Solidarity Forces.
The late Chief Prince Mahloma.