MBABANE: Prince Mgucisi Dlamini, the newly elected Mahlangatsha Member of Parliament(MP) allegedly ‘escaped’ from the Republic of Botswana to stand for elections in eSwatini, he is facing drugs smuggling criminal charges.
Documents sourced by this Swaziland News Investigation Unit from the Botswana Magistrate Court suggest that, the newly elected MP was released on bail after being arrested for allegedly trafficking Narcotic Drugs(Cannabis), he was subsequently ordered to surrender his passport to the Naledi Police Station Commander.
“That he pays cash bail in the sum of P15000. Provide two Botswana citizens sureties who shall each pay P5000 each. Shall not interfere with any state witnesses or attempt to intimidate any such witnesses or otherwise obstruct course of justice.Shall report himself fortnightly at Naledi Police Station every last Friday of the month between the hours of 0730hrs to 1630hrs.Surrender his traveling documents to Station Commander,Naledi Police.He shall not not interfere with State witnesses whose names shall be furnished by the prosecution. Attends court as and when required to do so”, reads the court papers, in part.
Reached for comments, the newly elected Mahlangatsha MP first greeted this journalist but, he later terminated the conversation immediately after this publication started asking questions why he allegedly escaped from Botswana to stand for elections in eSwatini.
“Hello, yebo Nkhosi”, said the MP before terminating the conversation after being questioned about the matter.
Efforts to reach the Spokesperson of the Botswana Police proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
On another note,the court documents suggest that, on the 9th August 2023, a few days after being nominated as an MP in eSwatini, Dlamini was to appear before Court at Exetension 11.
It could not be ascertained how he managed to escape as his travel documents were kept at Naledi Police Station.
Dlamini is highly expected to be sworn-in as an MP, in the next coming few days after winning elections at Mahlangatsha Constituency in the South-western parts of eSwatini.
Prince Mgucisi Dlamini(circled) is facing drugs smuggling charges in Botswana.