By Musa Mdluli

MANZINI:Ntokozo Ginindza,a traffic police officer allegedly based in Matsapha has taken former Member of Parliament(MP) Machawe Mavuso to the Manzini Magistrates Court,he is demanding thirty thousand Rands(R30,000.00) for alleged defamation.

This comes after the ex-MP told this Swaziland News through an audio sent to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini, alleging that a certain Ginindza police officer, demanded thirty Rands(R30.00) from him for an alleged traffic offense, the former MP did not mention the name of the officer.

Reached for comments on Wednesday,Mavuso confirmed receiving the court papers, he laughed saying he does not remember mentioning Ntokozo Ginindza when speaking to the editor.

“But I’ve given my lawyer the court papers to respond”, said the former MP.

On another note, Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini said,he won’t hire lawyers to defend the application as the police officer is suing Mavuso and publication is only cited as platform that published the story.

“The lawyer who is a friend, first called and alerted me that he might file papers,he stated that he is not suing the Swaziland News but the former MP and,the publication is only cited as a platform that published the story. I haven’t read all the papers to ascertain if there’s a need to participate in the legal proceedings”,said the editor.

But the editor said even though he might not participate in the proceedings, he “believes the police officer’s case is very weak” as his name was mentioned.

“If a person can accuse a Dlamini journalist of corruption, how many Dlamini’s working in the media?. Even if he is the only Ginindza officer in the traffic department,the former MP did not mention his name and he is the one who is exposing himself through the court papers.Sekutsi-ke tinkantolo takaNgwane taphansi kwesihlahla, ungeva kutsi liwinile leliphoyisa bese kugiyelwana nalo-Mantji lemali. But we will be following the case closely.What Mavuso was talking about is known in the country. Nami ngake ngawabona emaphoyisa aka-traffic alayishe lomunye Babe lobekabukeka adzakiwe afika amehlisa emnyango welihhovisi la-Shylock that was next to my office in Mbabane, loBabe wafike waboleka R500.00 wanika lamaphoyisa. I suspected that they caught him driving under the influence of alcohol”,said the editor.

The police officer is represented by NE Ginindza Attorneys.