By Wendy Magagula

MBABANE: The People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) came hard on King Mswati over the petrol bombing of Sive Siyinqaba Acting Chairman Ngomyayona Gamedze’s Mercedes Benz on Friday morning and warned of a looming civil war.

This comes after this publication, quoting a source working closely with the King, reported that Mswati allegedly issued an order to burn properties belonging to leaders of the pro-democracy movement.

Indeed, the report was subsequently followed by attacks on PUDEMO’s Panuel Malinga, Wandile Dludlu with the latest victim being Sive Siyinqaba Acting Chairman Ngomyayona Gamedze.

In a public statement released on Friday, Wandile Dludlu, the PUDEMO Secretary General said Gamedze’s car was allegedly burnt by royal agents.

“As PUDEMO we want condemn this unjust and evil act of royal cowardice and call upon united efforts by all democracy loving people of the world to decisively intervene before this country breaks out into a full-scale war. We know that these continuous attacks are meant to intimidate leaders of the progressive movement and cower them into silence. As we have mentioned before, we are not shocked at how the regime has resorted to criminal ways out of frustration and incompetency owing to the fact that they cannot catch the Solidarity Forces currently giving them sleepless nights.These attacks are targeting innocent leaders of the democratic movement as a way of intimidation and to create internal strife so that we can accuse and mistrust each other. We must see these acts for what they truly are; a dastardly criminal enterprise by frustrated agents of the regime,” reads the statement in part.

Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the police Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Another questionnaire was sent to Thabile Mdluli, the Deputy Government Spokesperson, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

The PUDEMO Secretary General said the political organization was certain that the criminal act across the country are driven, sponsored and carried out by King Mswati III as he publicly announced in his speech that anything that would burns from now would be a direct attack to the King.

“These latest acts are in line with Prince Simelane’s earlier outbursts that the royal government would fight ‘fire with fire,” reads the statement in part.