By Wendy Magagula

HOSEA:Swaziland News journalist Sicelo Mhlanga was on Saturday chased and harassed by Mswati’s police.

The journalist was on his way to cover a meeting at KaLiba community where Chief Prince Mlotjwa had summoned residents to discuss possible ways of restoring peace in the area.

It has been disclosed that while on his way from Manzini to Hosea, the police followed him,he was subsequently stopped,harassed and insulted.

Mhlanga then contacted editor Zweli Martin Dlamini who asked to speak to the police officer over the phone but,the officer identified as Hlophe asked not to talk.

“Ngicela kungakhulumi”,said the police officer when speaking to the editor through Mhlanga’s phone who had placed him on loud speaker.

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

Subsequently,Mhlanga was released but the police officers continued to follow him and they would sometimes overtake him at a high speed and block his way. 

The editor then contacted Barnes Dlamini,the President of the Swaziland Democratic Party(SWADEPA) and asked him to monitor the situation.

“I suggest that the journalist should go back to Manzini because he might be killed there,the police are still following him”,said the SWADEPA President when reporting back to the the editor.

But when Mhlanga tried to drive back to Manzini,the police followed him again,insulted and told him to continue with his journey. 

“They are insulting me batsi bengiyaphi kani angichubeke ngiye lapho bengiya khona,”said the journalist.

Mhlanga was eventually forced to continue with his journey to Hosea uMphakatsi where he found that the meeting was over.

Independent journalists in eSwatini are harassed by Mswati and his security officers for writing critical articles about the cruel and oppressive regime.