By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Pro-democracy groups are collectively intensifying pressure with South African authorities, seeking diplomatic sanctions against eSwatini and the arrest of two(2) of Mswati’s police officers who invaded South Africa and kidnapped Thabo Kunene, the alleged Commander of the pro-democracy Swaziland International Solidarity Forces(SISF).

King Mswati, an absolute Monarch allegedly commanded his security officers to trace and kidnap the Commander who has been fighting his regime with weapons amid killing of civilians by State police officers and soldiers.

The influential Commander who was kidnapped and subsequently trafficked to eSwatini about three(3) weeks ago, was also using social media platforms, while in hiding in the neighboring South Africa, to impose  ‘holidays’, shutting down the country as part of the efforts to democratize eSwatini.

Reached for comments, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said they were eagerly waiting to see, how the pro-democracy groups will work with South Africa authorities to link the King to the alleged kidnapping.

“For now, we will play our cards closer to the chest and see how South Africa and the complainants work together to challenge the alleged kidnapping,and how they link the King to the case.We believe  we should cross the bridge when we come to it and not jump for it from a distance.We are not aware of any formal paperwork to that effect,” said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News on Sunday.

It is alleged that Senior Superintendent Clement Maphila Sihlongonyane and Thabo Hlophe are alleged to have collaborated with one alleged South African based traditional healer Andile Nkomonye known as Dr Mkhulu, to kidnap the freedom fighter.

The leader of the pro-democracy Underground Forces was subsequently trafficked to the Kingdom of eSwatini through informal crossing.

An electronic evidence in our possession suggests that Dr Mkhulu, the alleged traditional healer who was working with the State ‘agents’, confirmed that the kidnapping was the King’s political ‘project’.

It has been disclosed that the pro-democracy groups are being assisted by top South African Advocates to explore legal means that might see the alleged kidnappers facing the law in South Africa, their particulars are already under scrutiny.

But Eswatini Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo recently released a statement describing Clement Sihlongonyane, one of the State police officers who was allegedly commanded to kidnap the alleged Commander, as a fearless cop.

This comes after Mlungisi Makhanya,the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) warned that action will be taken against Sihlongonyane and Hlophe who allegedly masterminded the kidnapping.

But apart from the kidnapping, Senior Superintendent Sihlongonyane allegedly killed dozens of civilians for demanding democracy.

“Mr Sihlongonyane has survived a number of attempts to terminate his life and this is a huge disappointment to the members of the proscribed entities and individuals who have made him their “target,” reads the press statement released by the Government Spokesperson in response to a public address by the PUDEMO President.

Before the kidnapping of the freedom fighter, Mswati’s government has been complaining that South Africa was harboring alleged ‘terrorists’, freedom fighters in eSwatini are labelled as terrorists.

Recently, Mswati’s courts convicted two Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube on terrorism charges merely for, demanding democratic reforms.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo did not respond to a subsequent questionnaire regarding the alleged looming diplomatic tension between eSwatini and South Africa over the invasion, and subsequent kidnapping of the alleged freedom fighter.

It is alleged that after consistent but unsuccessful request to extradite freedom fighters and independent journalists, the eSwatini Government opted to physically invade South Africa and kidnapped political activists.

Reached for comments, Bongnkosi ‘IB’ Dlamini, the Convenor of the United Eswatini Diaspora(UED) said, as pro-democracy groups, they were not only seeking the arrest of the security officers who kidnapped the alleged Commander of the Underground Forces but, they want action to be taken against eSwatini at diplomatic level.

“The two State police officers are just ‘small fish’, we want South Africa to take action against eSwatini over the invasion of it’s territory and the subsequent kidnapping of a freedom fighter. You will recall that South Africa took action against Rwanda after the killing of a citizen inside South Africa who was a critic of President Paul Kagame. In another case, senior South African police officers who allegedly trafficked Zimbabweans and handed them over to Mugabe were fired. So, South Africa is sensitive to countries that invade its territory to deal with dissents hiding here.We are working on this matter through legal channels,and we have confidence in South African laws that this matter will be escalated. It’s not about Sihlongonyane and Hlophe, those are small fish, we want South Africa to sanction eSwatini,” said the Convenor of the United Eswatini Diaspora(UED), a former top investigator in the office of the South African Public Protector.

On another note, eSwatini pro-democracy groups are organizing a picket on the 30th June 2023, to deliver a petition to the South African Department of International Relations and Corporation(DIRCO) and the Ministry of Police among other relevant institutions. 

The pro-democracy groups are calling for action to be taken against Mswati and his government for kidnapping the alleged leader of the pro-democracy Underground Forces.

Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers, political parties are banned from participating in elections and human rights defenders are arrested, tortured or even killed for demanding democracy.