By Sicelo Mhlanga

SOMTONGO:Dumsani Mbhamali,the Somntongo Member of Parliament(MP) has confirmed that armed police officers invaded his Constituency on Friday and assaulted residents at Vimbizibuko uMphakatsi who disrupted a civic voter education gathering organized by the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC).

This comes less than a week after Hosea residents disrupted a similar gathering on Tuesday, Mswati’s police responded by shooting Mvuselelo Mkhabela who was subsequently abducted.

Mswati,an absolute Monarch is battling to impose his undemocratic Tinkhundla elections as calls for democratic reforms intensify even in the rural areas,political parties are banned from participating in these elections.

“It’s true, police responded violently against the residents who disrupted the gathering. As we speak,armed police from the OSSU department are forcing everyone found within the Royal Kraal to sit down and listen to the officials from the Elections Commission,” said the Somntongo MP.

A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson, however,she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Speaking to this Swaziland News, Kuhle Myeni, a resident of the area said the police violently prevented the residents from leaving the event.

“The residents asked the EBC team questions and demanding an urgent political dialogue,” said the resident.

King Mswati has been battling to restore order in this tiny Kingdom after he refused to participate in a political dialogue and subsequently killed dozens of civilians for demanding democracy.