By Sicelo Mhlanga

HOSEA: Mvuselelo Mkhabela,a resident of Hosea and member of the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS)was shot and subsequently abducted by King Mswati’s police during a civic voter education gathering held at Hosea on Tuesday.

The gathering was organized by the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC),however,it ended pre-maturely after the residents went on a rampage, demanding answers regarding their Member of Parliament(MP) Bacede Mabuza who was arrested for challenging King Mswati, demanding democratic reforms.

Mkhabela was also assaulted by a  police officer with a stone after the officers started firing shots to disperse the residents.

A questionnaire was sent to eSwatini Police Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, however,she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Richard Vilane,the Hosea Indvuna yeNkhundla was hot under collar when addressing the EBC officials,he questioned why these officials came to Hosea for a civic education while MP Bacede Mabuza was inside prison.

“That’s not the way to conduct yourself, you should have at least firstly expressed sympathy to the residents for their incarcerated MP before engaging them.Someone is missing amongst us,where is Bacede?” said the Constituency Headman.

After the residents walked out,leaving the EBC officials, members of the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS)started a political song and that was when the police started shooting the residents,even the elderly had to run to the Mountains for cover.

On another note, after shooting and abducting Mvuselelo Mkhabela, the police disappeared without taking him to a nearby hospital, the bleeding CPS member was later transported to a health facility after being tortured.

Reached for comments, Pius Vilakati,the Spokesperson of the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS) confirmed the shooting of their member and the subsequent abduction.

“This evening,badly injured Mvuselelo was identified at Hlathikhulu Government Hospital.The police dumped him in the hospital and informed the hospital staff that they will come check him at night.Two unidentified senior police officers visited his ward to identify him. Subsequently, two plain clothed police came and took him pictures,”said the CPS Spokesperson.