By Mduduzi Hlophe

SIPHOFANENI: Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane has told Siphofaneni protesters including their Member of Parliament (MP), Mduduzi \'Magawugawu\' Simelane that their Constitutional right to freedom of expression has been revoked today. 

This was during the ongoing nation-wide delivery of petitions where residents across  the country\'s Tinkhundla Centres are petitioning their MPs demanding democratic reforms

Police temporarily detained MP Mduduzi \'Magawugawu\' Simelane for allegedly not wearing  a face mask properly and later blocked him from going to the Inkhundla centre where he was expected to receive a petition from his constituents.

When blocking the MP and a group of protesters ,Senior Superintendent Clement Sihlongonyane said their constitutional rights were deprived today following government\'s ban on protests and petition deliveries. 

“Your constitutional rights are revoked today” he said.

The Constitutional rights of the citizens were revoked by King Mswati through a decree communicated to the Nation through Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku on Thursday.

Responding to the police, MP Simelane said he was not going to the Inkhundla meeting but was only going to town.

\"What I am asking from you is to go to Siphofaneni which is my home town. If you say I am under house arrest, please show me an instrument to that effect. I am just going to town not to the meeting at the Inkhundla centre\", he said.

The police again fired teargas canisters towards his car in a bid to block him from going to the Inkhundla centre.

Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa and ruled by billionaire King Mswati as an absolute Monarch while 70% of the population is living in poverty is facing growing calls for democratic reforms.  Mduduzi \'Magawugawu\' Simelane, the Siphofaneni MP together with Hosea MP Mduduzi \' Bacede\' Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube are  on the forefront of the calls for democracy.