By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane, the Siphofaneni Member of Parliament(MP) has confirmed that the meeting where he was expected to appear before Lubombo Chiefs has been cancelled.

This comes after this Swaziland News quoted Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association Teachers(SNAT) and the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) President Colani Maseko urging the public to accompany the MP to Siphofaneni where it was alleged that he would be intimidated by the Chiefs for advocating for democratic reforms.

Reached for comments on Thursday, the MP said he has been informed by the Constituency Headman (Indvuna yeNkhundla) that the meeting that was supposed to take place at Siphofaneni Inkhundla on Friday has been cancelled.

“Yes, I can confirm that the meeting has been cancelled after being informed by the Indvuna yeNkhundla. I first received calls from journalists telling me that the meeting has been cancelled and then I verified with the Indvuna yeNkhundla who confirmed that they informed him that the meeting will no longer take place. I don’t understand why they don’t communicate with me directly, how were they going to face me in such meeting if they are afraid to talk to me? The support from members of the public is highly appreciated, even though they have cancelled the meeting people must be ready to stand in solidarity with anyone who might be victimised for calling for democracy, this is time for unity” ,said the MP.

Efforts to reach Themba Msibi, the Lubombo Regional Administrator proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Mbongwa Dlamini, the SNAT President said even though the meeting has been cancelled, the Nation would be ready to accompany the MP anytime should the Chiefs summon him again.

“We are ready to accompany him anytime because the MP is advocating for democracy and that’s what we want. So if they summon him that means they are summoning us and we will be there” ,said the SNAT President.

Reached for comments, Colani Maseko, the President of the Swaziland National Union of Students(SNUS) said there's a high possibility that the Chiefs and the Regional Administrator cancelled the meeting after learning that thousands would march to Siphofaneni in solidarity with the MP.

“This meeting has been cancelled because the regime couldn’t stand what was going to happen,we had mobilised the youth to come in numbers. Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku watsi ufuna  i-evidence kutsi labo-MP batfunywe ngitsi kufuna i-democracy bakatayibona-ke kusasa(meaning: Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku asked for evidence that these pro-democracy MPs where mandated by us, he was going to see it tomorrow. As we continue protesting across the Tinkhundla Centres, we must always stand in solidarity with anyone who might be victimised. Mswati is becoming unpopular everyday, he must surrender power to the people. I don’t want to talk about the Chiefs, they must read the Constitution and stay away from politics” ,said the Students President.