By Zweli Martin Dlamini

LOZITHA:Banele Shongwe(31), a King’s Protocol Officer allegedly unleashed armed police officers against his alleged pregnant girlfriend Nombuso Dlamini(27),a journalist of the Times of eSwatini.

Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati declined to comment about the matter.

The alleged abuse happened on Sunday at Lozitha Palace where the King’s Protocol Officer was allocated a house by his employer,His Majesty King Mswati, it is alleged that, Shongwe first labelled Dlamini “ingwababane” before unleashing the police on her.

Journalists of the Times who were concerned about the alleged abuse contacted this Swaziland News seeking assistance for their colleague after Shongwe threatened to kill the pregnant woman.

The Times journalists said, they were conflicted in the matter as Dlamini “is working for newspaper yet they want the story to come-out”.

Reached for comments on Wednesday,Percy Simelane confirmed that, Banele Shongwe “is employed as a Protocol Officer” for the King.

“I know him to be a Protocol Officer attached to the King’s Office”, said the King’s Spokesperson.

Speaking on this publication, journalist Nombuso Dlamini confirmed that, she was allegedly abused by her boyfriend but, the journalist was first reluctant to speak about the matter saying her parents won’t be comfortable to see it appearing in the media.

“Let me first inform my father because he is always on the phone reading Swaziland News stories so he will definitely see this story.Inkinga bantfu labadzala babese bayetfuka nasekuphuma tindzaba letifaka Bukhosi. Ngike ngambikela nje naye wangaphatseki kahle. So I think I must report just to let him know kutsi kutawuphuma indzaba lenjena”, she said.

After being informed by this publication that, this matter is a Gender Based Violence(GBV) issue involving a powerful person and therefore, it must be exposed,the Times of eSwatini journalist then agreed to comment.

“I went to visit him at Lozitha to report that I was not feeling well and need some financial assistance for medical treatment, he was with another woman. He asked me why I was even there saying I was disturbing her Queen who was sleeping. He then called the police saying he was being attacked by unknown people and when the police arrived they were very disappointed to find me with no attack. The police asked him why he lied that he was being attacked.They even asked; what if they arrived and shot any person within the premises thinking that, the person is among the attackers?. I was so traumatized because the police arrived with guns”, said the journalist.

Dlamini said after realizing that, this was a matter between the King’s Protocol Officer and his girlfriend,the police were kind to her and even transported her back to Mbabane as per her request.

When this Swaziland News contacted the King’s Protocol Officer,he terminated the conversation immediately after this journalist introduced himself.

“Ngikhuluma nabani Nkhosi?” he said before terminating the conversation after this journalist introduced himself.

On another note, the King’s Protocol Officer allegedly told Dlamini that, she won’t succeed in taking action against him as “yena ngumfana weNgwenyama”.

Efforts to reach Nonhlanhla Dlamini, the Executive Director of the Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse(SWAGAA) proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Cases of abuse against women are escalating in eSwatini and, women rights organizations have been urging Government to declare Gender Based Violence(GBV) a national disaster.