MBABANE: Two(2) State police officers were heard discussing among themselves about a plot to kill Sakhile Awviva Nxumalo,the vibrant President of the Swaziland Youth Congress(SWAYOCO), a Youth League of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO).
The police officers were standing at the entrance gate of the State owned radio building on Wednesday providing security to the building and this, was during the Workers Day Celebration.
While monitoring the events outside the Prince of Wales Sports Ground, the police officers discussed the plot, not knowing who was passing-by as they discuss.
The PUDEMO Youth League President was inside the Prince of Wales Sports Ground shortly after delivering his statement, criticizing the King, the Prime Minister and the Government.
One of the police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit(OSSU) allegedly said “kumfanele sale sim-attender lomfana loya ngatsi unenkinga” meaning; “we must start attending and dealing with that boy, he seems to be a serious problem”.
It has been disclosed that “kum-attender” is a phrase used by the police when plotting to kill political activists and human rights defenders.
This is not the first time the police plot to kill a political activist,human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was killed a few hours after King Mswati threatened those calling for democracy saying their mercenaries will deal them.
The lawyer who was the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) was allegedly killed by a joint operation involving the army, police and Mswati’s mercenaries.
But before that, PUDEMO member Sipho Jele was allegedly killed through a joint operation and orders issued by then then National Commissioner Isaac Magagula and former Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini.
The police subsequently claimed that Jele committed suicide inside prison by hanging himself with his shoelaces, the order to kill political activists that resulted to Jele’s death in 2010, was issued by Mswati during the 2008 Sibaya gathering through his “Abakhanywe” statement when re-appointing Barnabas as the Prime Minister.
A questionnaire was sent to Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments, PUDEMO Youth League President Sakhile Awviva Nxumalo said he long overcame fear and will continue fighting for democracy despite the threat to kill him.
“It’s very unfortunate that, the police are failing to understand that we are fighting to liberate them as well because, the regime is not treating them like human beings. But then, let me make it clear that,I long overcame fear and once you overcome fear, you live in peace because you know that even if you can die, you will be dying for a just course. This thing of fighting for democracy will never stop until the people are liberated, even if you can kill me, kill Zwemart or anyone calling for democracy, others who witnessed the injustice and brutality will rise”, said the PUDEMO Youth League President when responding to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
On another note, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini was stopped from addressing workers during the May Workers Day, he had to flee as the environment became hostile and a threat to his security.
PUDEMO Youth League President Sakhile Nxumalo.