By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane who is due for retirement in the next six months is frequenting at Siphocosini(Mantabeni)hunting Themba Mabuza,a member of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) with an alleged intention to kill him.

This disclosure comes after the shooting and killing of human rights lawyer and former PUDEMO Secretary General Thulani Maseko allegedly by King Mswati’s security forces.

A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Sihlongonyane, however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

PUDEMO Secretary General Penuel Malinga referred comments to the Hhohho Regional Chairperson Themba Zwane.

Reached for comments,Themba Zwane, the PUDEMO Hhohho Regional Chairperson confirmed the matter adding that the lives other members of the political organization at Siphocosini were in danger.

“It’s true that comrade Themba Mabuza reported to me on the 22nd February that he saw Sihlongonyane conducting surveillance at his home driving in a white car.Upon realizing that he saw him, the senior cop quickly drove-off”, said the PUDEMO Hhohho Chairperson.

Zwane said other PUDEMO members within Siphocosini are facing the same challenge of being followed by the police with an alleged intention to kill them.

Mswati’s police,soldiers and State mercenaries have killed dozens of civilians including human rights defenders since the political unrest erupted in June 2021z

After killing the political activists,the police would then claim to be investigating and that would be end of the matter.

But on the 22nd January 2023 shortly after the assassination of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko,a senior police officer within the Police Headquarters sent a message to this journalist, he alleged that he heard Sihlongonyane speaking on his phone saying someone would be killed in February.

“Kunjani Nkhosi,ewuuu ngibuhlungu mani,Nkhosi,sonkhe sisengotini,ngeva i-conversation kukhuluma Shlongo,some few weeks back kutsi kukhona lomunye lekumele ashaywe next month but angivanga kutsi bobani,but ngekubuka kwami Mlandvo usekhatsi,shotsi senguMaseko,then khona lolandzelako,bekatsi asibayekeleni benabe sitabese siyabesukela,watsi asibanikeni lendophi batikhunge bona.Wase utsi lona lomunye yena simbekele February.Even the hitmen labamhlophe they came wabalayela his office,then he left with them,they usually operate from the old police station,”reads the message sent to this journalist by the senior police officer.

Indeed,after this message sent to this journalist on the 22nd January 2023, on February 2023,Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane who was not aware that other senior cops were monitoring him and sending the information to this journalist, frequented Siphocosini in the outskirts of Mbabane in his mission to kill PUDEMO members.

The senior cop who leaked this information said he was ready to testify in due course and expose Clement Sihlongonyane.