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MINISTER, DOCTOR CLASH OVER MAYIBONGWE
Stories by Timothy Simelane
 

From The Swazi Observer

20 March 2007


 

GOSPEL music sensation Mayibongwe Mthimkhulu was on Monday evening embarrassed when her estranged boyfriend, Doctor Myeni dragged her out of a car in which she was relaxing, allegedly with a cabinet minister.

 

Myeni said he was shocked to discover that Mthimkhulu was two-timing him with a certain minister when he had always thought their love affair was all a bed of roses. The history of the escapades of their short-lived relationship lies in the details.

However, Mthimkhulu said she was not with a cabinet minister, as alleged, but with someone else. She also claimed her love affair with Myeni had walked into a ‘dead’ alley a long time ago. The minister however had switched off his mobile phone throughout yesterday.

The rest was just the popular heated rhetoric that characterised every love affair that had ended abruptly.

Monday’s incident attracted the attention of passers-by who were shell shocked at the sudden brouhaha that ensued in full view of members of the public next to Wild Wings food outlet.

After the wild altercation that almost resulted in an exchange of blows, Myeni said he had finally told the ‘minister’ to take Mthimkhulu with him.

He said the reason Mthimkhulu had hooked up with the minister was that he (Myeni) had refused to take her to Mbabane from the studio where she was recording an album.

“I tried to explain to her that it would be cost effective to drop her off at the bus rank where she would then take a kombi. I also had to take my son to The Clinic because he was ill. After refusing for some time, she finally agreed and I left her at the bus rank.

“My gut feeling told me something was amiss and I decided to return to the bus rank. It was then that I saw her embarking a minister’s car next to Wild Wings. I went to her and told her to alight but she declined and said I should leave her alone. An altercation ensued until I decided to let them go,” he said.

That was just part one of the drama. Part two unfolded in the evening of the fateful day at the Working Girls’ Hostel in Mbabane where Mthimkhulu resides.

From Manzini, Myeni drove to the hostel with the intention to demand back all the gifts he had allegedly endowed upon Mthimkhulu. These, he said, included a bra, hairpiece, half-eaten box of corn flakes, a few eggs, a FM mini radio and others.

The Catholic nuns succeeded in calming Myeni down and told him to return the following day (yesterday) for his items. However, more drama unfolded yesterday when Mthimkhulu preferred the issue to be resolved at the police station.

Myeni was advised by the police to seek the intervention of the court if he wanted his things back.

 

Woman arrested for murder

BY MUSA NHLEKO
From The Swazi Times
MANZINI – A woman is alleged to have hacked a love rival to death with an axe.

Thirty-year-old Mlindi Silindzile Maureen Dlamini of Nsuka in Mankayane is alleged to have committed the offence after she noted that her husband was now spending more time with the new lover, Dumsile Lwazi Dlamini. Sources alleged that Mlindi followed the deceased Dumsile to a local bus stop on February 6, and subsequently hacked her to death with the axe along the way.

It has been alleged that she later dumped her in a shallow ditch in a forest nearby.

A source said the accused, at some point, allegedlyhit the deceased with the axe on the jaw, fracturing it.

Dumsile also suffered serious injuries on the neck. These were observed when the body was found.

The source said the accused later returned home with the axe she had allegedly used in the brutal killing.

Odour gives

body away



The body was found by a man had gone to look for his cattle in the forest.

He is said to have been drawn to it by an odour of decomposing flesh.

The man raised an alarm upon discovering that the smell came from a decaying human body.

Residents responded to the alarm, and Mankayane police were called to investigate the murder. Mlindi was arrested on the February 15, and subsequently charged with the offence of mur- der.

Last Friday, March 16, she made a confession before Senior Magistrate Charles Masango at the Manzini Magistrate’s Court.

Yesterday the accused made her first remand hearing and when her legal rights were read to her, she preferred to conduct her own defence.

She looked calm, despite that only two women had come to support her.

Mlindi was remanded back to custody pending committal to the High Court.

 
POLICE FLAG CAUSES STIR
By Bheki Gama

From The Swazi Observer

 

 

THE Swazi Observer has been inundated with calls from concerned citizens with regards the new-look flag flown at the country’s police stations and institutions.

 

Rife suspicions were to the effect that the national flag had been made miniature to the police flag. However, this development has been put to its correct perspective. This was viewed as giving the police superior powers over the entire nation. Both flags are protected by the country’s constitution.

Attorney General Majahenkhaba Dlamini who incidentally was a prominent member of both the Prince Mangaliso Constitutional-led Review Committee as well as the Prince David-chaired Constitutional Draft Committee agreed that there were laws governing the national flag. However, he sounded ill-prepared to answer pertinent questions regarding the use of the country’s in other inferior national service institutions. He said he was not a dictionary of everything and therefore would need to consult his books in the office.

“This is not a matter I could just respond to through the phone, “ he said. However, he directed this newspaper to its lawyers. “Any lawyer can tell you the importance of a flag,” he suggested.

Sive Siyinqaba National Movement’s Zibuse Simelane, who emphasised that he was speaking as an individual, citizen said he had noted the new-look police flag, but did not, for one minute, seriously scrutinise it. He added that to those raised a different interpretation of the new police flag, “I can only hope there were intensive consultations before the incorporation of the national flag into that of police.” Simelane further said he did not yet know about police flag implications.

“Swazis may wish to know what it really means. We need an explanation from the police service,” he said.

King’s Private Secretary Sam Mkhombe said he was not aware of the matter and asked to reserve his comments. However, he mentioned that he personally did not find anything wrong with the use of the Swazi flag, saying flying the flag on one’s car did not mean they were now conferred with powers over the country. He also appealed for an open mind when looking at the issue. Deputy Senate President Senator Ngomyayona Gamedze said he had not yet seen the new police flag. He said it would be unfortunate if it were already viewed as symbols of a police state. He promised to ‘make the necessary consultations tomorrow (today) and come to you with an informed opinion.’

Manzini Regional Administrator Prince Masitsela said all questions should be directed to the police and the Prime Minister. Government spokesperson Percy Simelane said having the national flag embedded into that of police had no particular significance. He said more than anything this was a work of art. “Clothing designers have been using the national flag on their creations and that does not mean they had powers over the country,” he said.

He added that the flag as used by the police was a symbol of identification, noting that the symbol of the lion was also used by police elsewhere. Simelane likened the matter to the church where the symbol of Jesus Christ is smaller than the building. “That does not mean the building is mightier than Jesus,” he said.

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Vusie Masuku said he would have to consult the police administration first before commenting on the issue.

However, he said as far as he was concerned the national flag was embedded to show patriotism and, apart from that, it has no particular significance. There was, however, no clear explanation whether this development was solely based on fashion rather than the explanation of mere patriotism.

 

 

 

 

What of the Witchcraft Act?

From The Swazi Times

Viewers of Channel Swazi were treated to a very entertaining live broadcast of pastor Justice Dlamini from the Worship Centre last Thursday evening.

This is where the host Qhawe Mamba gleamed in delight and became a spectator, deriving pleasure from all the bile spewed by the so-called man of God on the night.

For those who missed it, Mamba would occasionally grin before the screen at intervals before spurring him on as the pastor went on unchallenged over articles published in the Times of Swaziland newspapers, which he described as a well-orchestrated scheme to ruin him.

In fact, Mamba went on to demonstrate highly unethical sympathy towards Pastor Justice by claiming that he was also a victim of The Times.

Mamba is not new to praise singing and he was close to doing same at the close of the show for Pastor Justice, a man who claims to have the key to life and death; threatening the life of his (Mamba’s) colleagues in the profession.

Mamba cheered as the pastor somersaulted on his previous statements, denying he had ever prayed for the death of Dr Mzizi and others.

This is a man who wants journalists dead, then calls a press conference to warn he is not joking because others who crossed his path had died.

He counts 12 dead bodies, but names two. Now he says he never prayed for their death but just asked “his God” to deal with them, and, like a devil worshipper, has basked in the glory of their misfortune.

He now threatens anybody who dares criticise him with similar fate.

Countries have laws. Swaziland has a Witchcraft Act, which makes it an offence for one to claim to possess powers that can cause the death of others.

Why is this case being treated differently? Or are the police too busy grappling with the police union and neglected their jobs?

The pastor should not attempt to play the conman that he confessed to being for a large part of his life at the press conference by speaking in tongues now that he finds himself exposed for who or what he really is.
Chaos in Court
By Mbongiseni Ndzimandze
 

From The Swazi Observer

17 March 2007


 

THERE was near chaos at the Mbabane Magistrates’ Court when warders and an inmate were involved in a scuffle yesterday.

 

This happened after one of the accused, who had already appeared before Senior Magistrate Dumsile Mamba for a remand hearing, demanded to be returned to court because there was something he wanted to clarify from the magistrate.

The warders who were manning security at the holding cells refused, and it was then that a heated argument ensued.

The inmate was told by the warders that it was time to go. Such did not go down well with him and he began to shout, in the process disturbing court proceedings. Prosecutor Mandla Dlamini, after realising that there was noise, quickly closed the door leading to the court’s holding cells.

The warders had a tough time ushering the accused out as he was aggressively forcing his way back to the courtroom.

It was after the door had been closed that the warders were seen pushing and grabbing the inmate who was also shouting on top of his voice, drawing the attention of other officers around the court premises.

Quick intervention by the Royal Swaziland Police saved the situation as they eventually managed to forcefully grab the inmate to a police van, which was parked outside the court premises.

In another development, police have arrested a man who is alleged to have defrauded a woman of E2 700 under the pretext that he was a police officer and was going to release her son who was arrested in South Africa.

Mafuga Eric Mbuli is alleged to have misrepresented himself to one Jabulile Gladys Hadzebe, telling her to pay the amount if she wanted her son released.

The accused, through his lawyer, was, however, granted bail fixed at E1000 - with conditions.

As one of his bail conditions, the magistrate ordered that Mbuli surrender his travelling document to the investigating officer, not to directly or indirectly interfere with witnesses, especially Hadzebe, not commit a similar offence while out on bail and to attend all remand hearings.

 

 

 

When silence means support
 

From The Swazi Times


17 March2007




Calls are mounting for action to be taken by the international community and SADC countries on Zimbabwe following the killing of a protestor and brutal assault on an opposition party leader who were protesting the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

The silence from governments— especially those in the region—has been deafening, Swaziland included.

The Swazi government may choose to ignore the crisis ‘in respect of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty’ but the sad reality is that her silence demonstrates a strong show of support for the Mugabe rule.

Swaziland is amongst African nations that subscribe to a united Africa ‘for the good of its people’ but its commitment immediately becomes questionable when it turns a blind eye on ‘the bad’ that is inflicted upon African people.

We also begin to question the success of initiatives such as the Peer Review Mechanism, a product of the African Union aimed at encouraging governments to improve their governance, if they dare not say a word in the face of a blatant killing of an unarmed citizen and brutality on those who dare exercise their rights to protest against what no African citizen could possibly bear.

Where is life in an economy with an inflation rate of 1700 percent?

Ours stands at 5.08 percent…for now; thanks largely to the fact that we are riding piggyback on the South African economy!

Zimbabwe, once the jewel of Africa, is now no more than a germ in the eyes of many fellow African brothers and sisters.

Many flee that country to neighbouring countries and abroad others, including Swaziland, which makes it every African leader’s business to address the issue for the simple reason that none of us wish to become refugees in a foreign land.

The guarantee to our livelihood starts with condemnations and calls for action by governments against those who transgress, without fear or favour!
 

 

DROUGHT: FEAR, DESPAIR
By Timothy Simelane
 

From The Swazi Observer

15 March 2007

 

AS the drought spell unleashes an aura of despair and inevitable gloom in the country, it has become imperative that alternatives be identified to control the situation, stakeholders in the disaster management have said.

 

The World Food Programme said their figures showed that people reliant on food relief would increase from 200 000 to 215 000 this year.

An estimate by the Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mtiti Fakudze was that relieving the drought stricken communities would cost not less that E1 billion.

Without imitating a doomsayer, Fakudze also predicts that the cost of maize will increase to a shocking E3000 per ton this year.

Fakudze said the acute shortage has exacerbated the drought situation and would guarantee that there is too little or no meaningful harvest this year.

“Yinyandzaleyo emaSwatini. There is little hope and we just have to take desperate measures,” he said. Fakudze said the idea of setting up a fund for Swazis to donate towards the alleviation of hunger could not be dismissed, only if there would be a commitment to use the funds in a responsible manner.

“We do not want a repeat of the Zamcolo (Cyclone Domonia) donations where the money was stored in shelves and not used appropriately,” he said

Fakudze said assessment reports were that both the lowveld and highveld would bear the brunt of the drought as the rains were scarce countrywide.

“Similarly, livestock will not survive because they depend on the very natural resources such as water and grass for survival,” he said.

Fakudze said government had a task to compile a report and take it to the international community where they would seek assistance towards the alleviation of the drought.

“We will need billions of Emalangeni to help all the people that will be affected by the drought,” he said. Fakudze said the problem was now beyond the capabilities of government, but that it had grown to be a national issue.

He also talked of operationalising the Disaster Management Act as one of the many potent strategies to harness the situation.

He said if the Swazis managed to raise E1.6 billion in the Job Creation Summit, it would also raise a similar amount to alleviate the imminent poverty.

The minister also appealed to partners of the country that include donor agencies and the private sector to contribute to efforts aimed at saving lives. World Food Programme (WFP) Resident Representative Abdoulaye Balde outlined some alternatives that could be prioritised.

He said Swaziland could redeploy its resources to assist small holder farmers who operate within areas where irrigation is available.

These are such as women in development who farm gardens and grown crops that are resistant to drought.

“There is no hope in massive crops because that is where the drought is concentrated. Even if some rains will come now, it is obvious that people can no longer plant because this is not a planting season. We have to support women in development who have needs for water and farming implements.”

He said there was an alternative for people to start feed lots. “But Swazis are used to traditional means of keeping livestock as opposed to feedlots,” he said. Balde also said there was also an option to free the market of maize to create a fair trading ground for farmers. That would also see the price of maize becoming competitive in an open market.

Trustee Gina, the Nkilongo MP said the situation could be worst than this as the Great Usutu River, the country’s largest, was now drying up.

“We should have seen this calamity at a distance and tried to build dams to capture the water. We ask that business people and individuals should all contribute towards alleviating the effects of the drought,” he said. Balde said statistics were such that one million Swazis eat 180 000 metric tones of maize per year.

 

Mshamndane’s

11 alternatives

 

National Disaster Task Force (NDTF) Chairman Ben Mshamndane Nsibandze gave 11 alternatives to the predicament.

1. People should know that disasters are not a passing phenomenon. They are here to stay and we have to prepare for them in time.

2. We should therefore stand up against the dependency syndrome and promote self-help improvement scheme

3. Promote and strengthen farmers especially women’s associations and co-operative endeavours.

4. Develop, where possible, irrigation schemes. Home vegetable gardens e.g. a ten metre square garden.

5. Plant drought tolerant crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes. Quick maturing crops are essential too.

6. Construction and improvement of water conservation measure and harnessing rivers. Small dams should be built for irrigation.

7. We had proposed that he who has 100 hectares of land, ten of those should be maize as a matter of policy.

8. Creating a subsidy fund. In some countries if you grow particular plants you have subsidies.

9. Promotion of small scale livestock. Indigenous chicken, goats and etc.

10. Promotion of conservation farming.

11. Chiefs should encourage people to appreciate the situation, such as that there are no grazing areas.

 

 

‘Buganu cost me arm and a leg’
From The Swazi Times

BY MUSA NHLEKO
13 March2007

SITEKI – A man has told how he was hit by a speeding train, while he was drunk from a marula-drinking spree, losing an arm and a leg during the accident that happened on Monday afternoon.

The last time Mandla Matsenjwa (57) had a set of legs and arms was before he staggered onto the rail line, where he fell asleep before he was crushed by a train.

Matsenjwa lost his right arm about five centimetres from the shoulder and his left leg from just above the knee.

The limbs were cut off at the scene and were later found there by the police who then took them with him to the hospital where they were placed in a cold enclosure.

This is a second train accident involving a person who allowed the annual brew to take charge of his life.

Last week a man who slept next to a rail line after drinking marula sped into a passing train after its sound had woken him up.

He sustained serious injuries, though not as grave as that of Matsenjwa.

Matsenjwa of Manyiseni in Big Bend regrets getting drunk.

He said everything started when he decided to have a few drinks before leaving for his cousin Mfanimpela Mbham-ali’s place.

He said he was walking from his sister’s place at Mndobandoba when the thought occurred.

As it was hot on that day, Matsenjwa said he drank so many jugs he could not keep count, all in a bid to cool off.

“I then decided to leave around 8pm and headed for my cousin’s place, where I would spend the night before departing for Manyiseni, where my home is,” Matsenjwa said, while showing signs of agony on his face.

Along the way, Matsenjwa said he remembers trying to cross a railway line, but he could not.

He said he still did not understand how he failed to cross the line.

He said he had always known though that when one was drunk from marula he would not be able to cross a river or railway line.

He said he believed the railway line had a magnet, which was activated when a train was passing.

This claim could not be fully verified at the time of compiling this report.

Matsenjwa did not hide the fact that he slept on the railway line and he only discovered that he had been injured after the train had passed.

He said the train did not stop, adding that there was a second train, which he believes also injured him, but this one did stop, and the driver, who found Matsenjwa on the rail line called the police.

The police rushed the injured man to the Good Shepherd hospital, where he is presently recuperating.

When the Swaziland Railway Public Relations Officer, Lizzy Mbhokane, was reached for comment yesterday, she confirmed the accident and said her organisation would investigate.

She said while her organisation was sympathetic to Matsenjwa, they were appealing to the public to keep away from the railway at all times.

 

 
RADIO GAGS JUSTICE

From The Swazi Observer

By Timothy Simelane

13 March 2007

WHAT promised to be a scintillating debate on the escapades of Mbabane Worship Centre’s Pastor Justice Dlamini was pulled off the air at the eleventh hours after the Swaziland Broadcasting Information Service (SBIS) took a stand against it.

 

In its Morning Live show dubbed 'Letishisako', SBIS talk show host Bonsile Dlamini apologised to all enthusiastic would-be commentators of the issue, saying SBIS would not allow it to proceed as planned. The debate, which is currently making headlines, was sparked by Pastor Justices’ assertion that he had prayed for the death of many people who crossed his path. At worst, some of the people had died of different causes, whilst some had serious problems in life. Dlamini claimed responsibility for praying for their misery.

Explained the host: “We would like to apologise to all the people who had previously called, willing to comment on the issue that such interviews have since been canceled because they touch on the lives of people.” Meanwhile Pastor Justice, when called yesterday said the news that the debate was pulled off air had not reached him.

“But, that does not shake me as I am currently relaxing without any problem,” he said. SBIS Director Stan Motsa said the radio station had taken a stand not to entertain comments on the issue of Pastor Justice because it now touched on the identities of certain individuals.

“We are protecting the entity of the SBIS from possible litigation because the issue now includes certain personalities,” he said.

Pastor Justice first made his astonishing claims after a Times of Swaziland news reporter and editor published a story that he had grabbed a car that was donated to one of the church pastors. The pastor had resigned from the church when the car was taken from him.

The self-styled clergyman announced that he had prayed for the death of the two because he was not pleased with the manner they handled his story.

When people registered shock at the uncommon prayer, he revealed how he had prayed for many people who subsequently died or experienced problems.

 

 

 

Another bus day, another bus death

From The Swazi Times
13 March2007

When we ask leaders of this government to take action against bus owners, like the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Njabulo Mabuza, who allow buses that are declared unroadworthy by the police on the road, nobody listens.

We warn our leaders that failure to take such action would encourage others to do likewise, which unfortunately means taking chances with people’s lives.

Sadly this is exactly what has occurred.

This time, unlike the minister’s bus which injured a Mozambican and rammed into a wall after losing brakes when entering the Manzini Bus Rank, another bus lost its brakes on entry and crushed a woman to death.

Traffic laws are evidently no longer helpful and need urgent review because it is the driver who gets arrested and charged with culpable homicide, while the owner enjoys the full benefits of the day’s collections in the comfort of his/her home.

This is why we look to our leaders and legislators to change this situation to force the owners to account for their vehicles.

This would instill a sense of responsibility on the part of the busmen, which would in turn keep passengers safe; passengers like those who were in a fully-loaded bus yesterday which, ironically, also belongs to the minister of Health and Social Welfare.

The bus is believed to have burst a tyre and plunged into a ditch. There were pupils and teachers on board, but God has spared their lives.

Whether the tyre was in good condition is not for us to say, but where there are traces of failure to ensure that the buses are roadworthy, we become sceptical. That is for the vehicle inspectors to determine.

What legislators can determine, however, is responsibility; but if nobody is responsible enough to make people accountable for their actions, who will save the public from the killers on our roads?

 

Rough Justice continues ( Comment )

From The Swazi Times
12 March2007

 

The Grim Reaper, otherwise known as Justice Dlamini, High Priest of the Church of Death, has had another busy week.

He has now included in his hit list several more members of The Times of Swaziland staff plus other sundry pastors with whom he has disagreed. Perhaps he has bought a controlling share in some local undertaker and coffin-maker.

He has now become a true menace to society.

Last week he cruelly distressed, in a brutal way, the family of the late Joshua Mzizi, claiming that he had requested God to kill him. Just as the family were coming to terms with their bereavement this charlatan boasts - yes boasts, that he was responsible for Joshua’s death. Absolute rubbish, Joshua had suffered from diabetes, a debilitating disease, for a long time before he passed away.

In the coming week people will die in Swaziland and thereafter as is the normal cycle of our existence. But they will die from old age, car accidents, fights, chronic illnesses, drownings or fatal encounters with wild animals.

They will have died without the wicked machinations and so-called evil eye of a rogue priest such as Dlamini. Any false prophet can stand up and claim to have so and so killed using such natural events to his unholy advantage. A cruel deceiver’s trick.

He also claimed last week in effect to have ‘smelled out’ 12 wizards and had his god slaughter them.

Strange that there have been no news stories of heaps of bodies piling up beside the logs at the roadsides of Bhunya. ‘Smelling Out’ wizards or witches is still illegal in Swaziland and is a punishable offence. Reverend Justice Death Dlamini is a law-breaker, such is this man of God.

Jesus Christ referred to people like death-dealing Dlamini as “whitened sepulchers, which appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness.” Written in St. Matthew’s Gospel, The New Testament.

Repent Dlamini, we don’t want you to die. We want you to be redeemed from your evil ways. The Nation’s true God can help you but your dark god cannot. Get a life, not a death.

 
SD LOSES E37bn DEAL
Stories by Teetee Zwane

 

From The Swazi Observer

12 March 2007

 

A mining project worth about E37 billion (US$5 billion) initially meant for Swaziland has since been established in Mozambique.

 

Greenstone Mining, a Mbabane based company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Mozambique’s state petroleum company, ENH for various mining projects.

These include the construction and operation of a 100 000 barrel per day petroleum refinery, 3.5 giga watt electricity generation plant and 3 000 hectares of hydroponic agriculture facility, believed to be the biggest combined facility of its kind in Africa.

initially

One of Greenstone Mining’s Directors Wilfred Fakudze said the company had initially intended to construct a similar facility at Siphofaneni after introducing the project at the Job Creation Summit in 2005.

“During the summit we had an exhibition stand at the Mavuso Trade Centre where the investors, who are from the United Kingdom, explained what projects they had in mind for countries in the region,” he said.

The director said the investors came to the country at the invitation of the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA) and wanted to give Swaziland first preference in terms of investment, as their intention was to initiate projects in various African countries.

amendment

However, it was gathered that the project had been put on hold in the country due to the amendment of the Mining Act. It was also established that the project proposal was submitted to various authorities in the country and approved, but had since been put on hold until the new Act comes into effect.

However, Director of Geological and Mining Surveys Richard Maphalala disputed this, saying it was a blatant lie. He said stalling of the project had nothing to do with the law, but instead, the reasons had environmental implications.

“Firstly, the company wanted rights to the entire coal field in Swaziland and as a country, we could not allow them absolute access to this one resource of national importance and benefit as it would have put us in an uncompromising position in the longrun,” he explained.

Maphalala said the company’s operations were also going to pollute underground water and thus, the department of geology could not allow this as it would have been an environmental nightmare.

“The law has nothing to do with it,” he emphasised, “this was just an environmental nightmare. They should rather cite other reasons not this one because even if the Act is being amended, the old Act is still in effect until such time the new one is enacted.”

The Greenstone case comes in the wake of Prime Minister Themba Dlamini lamenting the energy problems facing the country, with shortages expected to be experienced in the near future, following outages in South Africa which is currently the main supplier of power to Swaziland.

assist

At a business breakfast meeting last week, he urged local investors and stakeholders to come forth with projects that would assist government in addressing the problem.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Majozi Sithole pointed out in his budget speech, delivered on February 21, that to increase local energy generation, government was working on establishing a 19 Megawatt Hydro -Power Station at Maguga dam to be commissioned this year while a feasibility study for a possible 1000 - 2000 Megawatt Coal Fired Power Station to utilise the country’s coal reserves was being undertaken.

On the other hand, Greenstone’s Fakudze said: “The investors wanted to invest not only in Swaziland but other countries as well. They are offering both finance and technical assistance to developing countries in the region,” said Fakudze.

The director, however, stated that this development did not mean the project would no longer be established in the Kingdom. He said the investors would eventually invest in the country, but still had to wait for a few logistics to be put in place.

“The total value of the investment in Mozambique is about E37 billion (US$5 billion) and the project is expected on stream within five years,” he said, adding that the Mozambican government held a 47 percent share in the joint venture company.

Fakudze explained that the project entailed the use of high technology to convert coal, oil and natural gas into petrol, diesel and jet fuel while considering every aspect of long term national economic development as well as environmental impact.

authorities

He said the project was initially presented to the relevant authorities in the country in 2004 and it had taken almost three years now without any progress. “We hope when the Act comes into place we will be called upon to discuss further developments and hopefully put the project in motion.”

Fakudze said the project had the potential to employ a lot of people who would be needed for the greenhouses, hydro-power and refinery plants as well as supporting jobs that would arise.

Meanwhile, SIPA Acting General Manager John Creamer said he was not familiar with the proposed project and developments as he was not part of the delegation that extended the invitation and not in the relevant department at the time. Efforts to get hold of SIPA Manager - Foreign Direct Investment Zizwe Vilane proved futile.
 
Marula gets them stripping
By Mbongiseni Ndzimandze
 

From The Swazi Observer

26 February 2007


 

As the Marula fever gains grip on the imbibing segments of the population, two men from Nhlangano paraded naked while singing loudly along Nhlangano’s 5th Street in yesterday.

 

Police Public Relations officer, Superintendent Vusi Masuku, stated that the two attracted members of the public and the police, who swiftly took action by arresting them.

“There was a dramatic chase and the police managed to arrest the two allegedly drunk men. They are a 28 years old man of Makhukhula and a 24 year old man of Mbangweni and were charged with public indecency,” he said.

He stated that the two were however released after paying the E60 admission of guilt fine.

“As members the police we would like to warn members of the public not to commit or conduct themselves in acts that are against good morals of the society. People who will fail to behave themselves will face the full wrath of the law,” added Masuku.

On another development Manzini police arrested and charged four men, three from Soweto, South Africa, and the other one from Thembelihle in Mbabane, after being found in possession of a 38mm revolver which was loaded with 14 live rounds of ammunition and one rubber bullet without a licence while at Manzini.

The four are expected to appear before the Manzini Magistrate’s Courts today.

Masuku also reported that Lavumisa police are investigating murder of a 50 year old man of Qomintaba area who was on Sunday found lying dead with several stabs wounds all over the body while in the same area and no one had been arrested so far.

In another case, Masuku reported that along Hlatikulu/ Mhlaleni public road a Toyota Hilux driven by a 35 year old man from Mpolonjeni in Mbabane knocked down a seven year old pedestrian girl from the Nkwene.

The police mouth piece stated that the girl was rushed to Hlatikulu Government Hospital, where she died while undergoing treatment.

He stated that the driver has since been charged with culpable homicide and will today appear before Hlatikulu Magistrate’s Courts.

 

Dumped hours after wedding
From The Swazi Times
BY SIHLE MZILENI

26 February 2007



NHLANGANO- It is every woman’s dream to get married, but for Bonakele Nzima (36), hers turned into a nightmare when her marriage lasted for only a few hours.She got the shock of her life when her husband kicked her out of their home hours into their marriage for lying about her age and the number of children she has. Nzima of Mthunzini in Lavumisa, was made to leave her matrimonial homestead the same day she had been traditionally wed (tekaed) to Patrick Mngometulu in Mndobandoba two weeks ago.

This was after the groom had stumbled across the woman’s birth certificate which showed that she was five years older than him yet she had claimed they were of the same age.

She said her husband also told her that he had independently found out she had three children from previous relationships and not just the one child she had told him about.

It was gathered that Mngometulu is now seeking the bride’s family to pay back his cow that he paid to her in-laws as a symbol of oneness with his wife, known as Insulamnyembeti. Narrating her ordeal, the teary Nzima said that she was still recovering from the pain that her husband caused to her especially after a wedding day. “He humiliated me before his relatives and my own siblings who had come to support me during the teka ceremony. He did not even give me time to explain,” Nzima added. Nzima said she was just from the kraal after she had been smeared with red ochre when her husband told her to leave his parental homestead premises immediately.

“My husband angrily bolted into where the bridal party was meeting and ordered the teka process be stopped saying he was no longer interested in me. When my relatives asked for an explanation he said we should get all the details from his father but in the meantime we should get out of the premises,” Nzima added. When sought for comment, the groom, Mngometulu, told the Times that he had to force his ‘ex-wife’ to leave because she had lied to him and he lost confidence in her.

“First of all I had been suspicious that there was something she was hiding from me such that on the day she was being tekaed, I became inquisitive and went through her stuff that she had placed at my flat (Lilawu). Fortunately I came across her birth certificate that indicated that she was born in 1971 as opposed to the 1978 she had told me was the year she was born. I was born in 1976 and she is too old to be my wife. I also came across certificates of her two children that she never told me about yet she told me that she had one child who is five years old,” Mngometulu added.

He said he was shocked that the two boys that he had always believed were her brothers were actually her children, one aged 16 and the other 12.

“These boys are more able bodied than I am and even taller. I could not take the lies and I felt there were a lot of things that she was not honest about regarding her past. In a moment I could not trust her so I felt I could not trust her in my life time,” Mngometulu added.

He said he sought the cow that he paid to his in-laws as per custom when one is tekaed.

“I have since asked my father to reclaim the cow since he was the one who continued with paying it after I had told him not to do so. I am unemployed and I need to take another wife. I want to use the cow to pay Insulamnyembeti for a wife who shall be honest to me,” Mngometulu added.

In the meantime Nzima said Mngometulu had been misled about the certificates. “I had to lie to the officers about my age when I went to make the certificate because I was too young to take it for myself. I had to increase my years so that they would give me the service. I was born in 1978.

“As for my two boys, I was still going to tell him the truth about them but I was scared he would dump me since he also told me that he had one child. I still take him as my husband since in Swazi culture there is no divorce after one has smeared you with red ochre” Nzima added.

 
 
TRAGEDY: TWO KILLED BY BUGANU
By Ackel Zwane
 

From The Swazi Observer

19 February 2007


 

TWO people died after drinking the potent marula brew at Mzaceni on Friday.

 

Sitani Magagula was hastily buried yesterday morning by relatives who used wooden doors as a coffin. This was a result of seething poverty engulfing the family.

The two were victims died of suspected poisoning after a neighbour invited them for a drink yet the families had previously fought over a missing shovel.

Boy Sifundza and Sitani, his mother, fell sick on Thursday evening immediately after the drinking spree.

Boy was immediately rushed to to the clinic after he had lost his speech. He was rushed to Mkhuzweni Clinic and transferred to Pigg’s Peak Government where he finally died. His remains at the mortuary await burial but there are no means for the exercise.

It is alleged that in November last year a neighbour was arrested for battering someone. Having served his term in prison his homestead was left with no minder. As a result his properties were looted.

Nephew Elmon Nhlabatsi said Boy came across a shovel and took it home. That shovel apparently belonged to the neighbour. It then transpired that the said neighbour suspected that the shovel found with Boy was evidence enough that the other missing items may have been taken by Boy.

Last week, Nhlabatsi said, Sitani, Boy, Jabulile and a three-year-old boy were invited for a drink by the neighbour. Another fellow, Sgawula Mhlabane joined the party. After having some but not too many they decided to return home. By then the child had been served with Ligusha.

On their return home they were called again, says Nhlabatsi, for another round of drink. After their return trouble started at night.

Jabulile Magagula is battling for dear life at Mkhuzweni Clinic.

On admission she was served with drip but by then she had lost her mind, it was gathered.

Last night she was able to answer to questions but said she was feeling dizzy. She could not proceed to give an account of what transpired on Thursday but only groaned to be allowed to relax.

However, when we visited the neighbour we found no one at home.

yesterday morning mourners filled the Sifundza homestead in respect of the dead as per custom to be served to other rounds of marula.

They related how Nhlabatsi had to dismantle doors to some of his huts to make a coffin for Sitani. He said he was a pensioner with no earnings, given the state of scarcity of rains.

He, therefore, appealed to the nation to assist him with the 10 orphans left by Boy who also lived from hand to mouth.

Coming into the Sifundza homestead one is met by a sore sight of thin blades of maize crops already succumbing to the scorching heat.

Peels of the marula fruit litter the homestead. They say it is the only thing that keeps tears back and suspends the trauma of the tragedy.

“We look upon God to intervene. We do not have much to say,” says Nhlabatsi.

Happy Sifundza was holding her grandmother Sitani when she finally died. She says the old woman had lost her speech and wobbled each time she attempted to either vomit or relieve herself.

It is expected that Boy might be buried on Sunday but the problem is that they do not know how. They said they would also wish to exhume Sitani’s body, given the assistance, so that they may afford her a decent burial.

 

Drunk woman drives govt tractor, kills hubby
By Thabile Masuku
 

From The Swazi Observer

19 February 2007


 

IN a weekend characterised by fatal tractor and motorbike accidents, an allegedly drunk woman ran over her husband in a government tractor, killing him on the spot.

 

The incident happened at Lubulini, in the Lubombo region, at around 6pm on Saturday.

The deceased was employed by government and had finished carrying out his duties for the day. Police say the couple was driving from Ncandweni to Manyonyaneni Cattle Breeding Station, where they resided in a government compound.

“The man had given the woman the tractor to drive while he sat on the tractor’s must guard. As they were driving, the man fell off and the tractor ran over him, killing him on the spot,” said Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Vusie Masuku yesterday.

Supt. Masuku said there were other passengers in the tractor but they all survived.

The woman, Ntombifuthi Myeni (30) was subsequently arrested and charged with culpable homicide, unlicensed driving and drink-driving. She is expected to appear before the Lubulini Magistrates' court this morning. The deceased was aged 58.

On another note, a 17-year-old boy died tragically when the tractor he was driving lost control and overturned at Ngcwengcweni in the Hhohho region on Saturday.

The tractor is said to have been pulling a trailer filled with river sand when the boy lost control of the vehicle, dying on the spot.

The incident happened at around noon.

Meanwhile, two people died in different motorbike accidents over the weekend.

One of them involved a 27-year-old man of Manzini, whose motorbike collided with a vehicle near Phondo. The cyclist is said to have failed to negotiate a sharp corner thus the bike collided with an oncoming vehicle. He died on the spot while the driver of the vehicle was rushed to Mankayane Government Hospital, where he was treated and discharged.

The last accident involved a South African cyclist who was partaking in an Orion Hotel competition. The unidentified cyclist is said to have been found by residents of Mgobodzi, in the Northern Hhohho region, frothing. He died on arrival at Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital.

 

10 years for killing brother-in-law
By Timothy Simelane

From The Swazi Observer

16 February 2007

 

A MAN who was arrested for the murder of his brother in law, was found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced by the High Court to 10 years imprisonment.

Joseph Mbuyisa (62) was arrested in June 26, 2004 for allegedly bashing Mvimbi Mbhamali with a log on the head after an argument over a Boxer cigarette.

Acting Chief Justice Jacobus Annandale said after hearing a statement of fact written by the accused and seen by both the crown council and his lawyer, he was convinced that there had been no intention to commit the crime of murder.

He then sentenced Mbuyisa to 10 years in jail, five of which were suspended for a period of three years on condition that he not be found to have committed a similar offence. The sentence was also backdated to the time when he was arrested. His lawyer, Collin Ntiwane argued that the 32 months Mbuyisa spent in jail amounts to four years in that a year is eight months. The implication is that Mbuyisa could spend eight more months in jail.

He had pleaded guilty to culpable homicide. On the fateful day, Mbuyisa was seated with friends at a homestead enjoying traditional brew when Mbhamali came and grabbed a boxer cigarette from his mouth. He told the court that he was annoyed by the deceased's action so much that he grabbed a log and bashed him on the head.

Mbuyisa said when he realised that he had hurt the deceased, he bandaged him and had thought the injury was minor.

He then slept in the same room with him until the following morning when he called for an ambulance. It was when he was rushed to hospital that he died.

Handing down the sentence, Justice Annandale remarked that Mbuyisa would be haunted by the consequences of his actions all his life.

“Human life is worth more than gold or diamond. You cannot undo the harm that you have already done. If you do not ask for forgiveness from the Lord Jesus Christ, you will also burn in hell,” he said.

The judge also told Mbuyisa that after his release from jail he had to go and ask for forgiveness from the family of the deceased.

 

 

 

 

 

FOUNDER COP ARRESTED
By Mbongiseni Ndzimandze

From The Swazi Observer

16 February 2007

 

ONE of the police officers behind the formation of the police union has since been arrested and charged for contempt of court in that he failed to appear before the police tribunal.

 

Buhle Dlamini yesterday appeared before Magistrate Lorraine Hlophe, who ordered that he appear before the tribunal court at 9:00 am today.

His lawyer, Thulani Maseko agreed to the arrangement while Senior Prosecutor Cecilia Ndlovu applied that should Dlamini fail to appear before the tribunal today he must be apprehended so that he would always be fetched from custody when needed. Dlamini’s arrest comes after he is alleged to have failed to honour two summons that were issued against him and in the process contravened Section 15 of the Police and Public Order Act of 1957.

Section One of the Act reads “any person summoned as a witness under Section 14 and fails to attended the tribunal at a time and place mentioned in the summons and anyone who refuses to be sworn, refuses to give evidence or to produce any book, paper or document under his control lawfully required to be produced, or to answer lawful questions put to him shall be guilty of an offence and liable of conviction to be dealt with by a magistrate’s court in like manner as if duly summoned to appear at criminal trial.”

He is alleged to have been issued with a summon on 21 February last year, but refused to sign it and another warrant was issued but he never appeared before the tribunal.

Before the tribunal, Dlamini is expected to answer allegations that he absented himself from work and further demanded payment for staying at home.

Information gathered is that Dlamini’s issue backdates from last year when it is alleged that after graduating for a degree in law at the University of Swaziland he never showed up for work.

It is further alleged that several instructions were issued by his superiors that he appear before the tribunal but Dlamini is alleged to have failed.

Information gathered is that Dlamini surrendered himself to the police yesterday morning after getting information that he was wanted by the police.

In a separate interview Dlamini stated that it was around 11p.m when police officers crammed his flat only to find that his girlfriend was alone inside. “It was after discovering that I was not inside that they searched everything in the room. In the morning I went straight to the Mbabane police station where I was later arrested,” added Dlamini. Dlamini, who was in a jovial mood at the Magistrates' court, is expected to be hauled before the tribunal today and should he fail he would be apprehended by the police.

The Act further states that a member of the force other than a senior officer who is guilty of an offence against discipline shall be liable to any one or more of the following :

(a)Where disciplinary proceedings are conducted by the tribunal, the member of the force shall be liable for admonition reprimand, sever reprimand or a fine not exceeding E 200.

It state that any fine imposed upon a member of the Force may be recovered by stoppage from pay of that particular member.

 

 

 

 

PROOF THAT DOING RIGHT - BRINGS GOOD RESULTS
By Musa Ndlangamandla
 

From The Swazi Observer

15 February 2007


 

 
IN recent years the country has attracted bad publicity in the international media like flies to cow dung.

If it were not a negative report about our cultural way of life and traditional leadership, it was the topsy-turvy political landscape, runaway poverty or the dubious honour of leading the world in HIV prevalence rate.

Those lucky enough to have travelled spend to the hinder lands attract a lot of attention to themselves as soon as they declare themselves Swazi - all sorts of questions are asked as the country is potrayed to be a 'Micky-Mouse' setting in the world stage.

Many had given up hope that any good could come out of the situation, with hundreds hiding their national identity once they are abroad.

A shame indeed.

However, headlines of the past few days have shown us that indeed there is another face of Swaziland. One associated with good planning, excellent programmes and impressive delivery. We've had headlines that tell the world that the Swazi people and their systems can be trusted, relied upon with funds and are worthy of assistance. First it was the news that Swaziland had been chosen as the first country to benefit from an historic alliance between F.C. Barcelona and UNICEF to help protect the rights of children, particularly in the sphere of HIV and AIDS.

A whopping E7 million was donated by the club. Through a well orchestrated campaign, a formidable partnership with the media in Swaziland and abroad as well as a dedicated staff, UNICEF Swaziland put together a comprehensive package about the issues on the ground regarding children in the country.

Such a publicity campaign, UNICEF Communications Manager Nonhlanhla Hleta observed, was sent out to the world and attracted the attention of such philanthropists as the President of FC Barcelona Joan Laporta and the team. Barca, as the team is affectionately referred to by its millions of fans from around the world, saw that Swaziland was working hard to stop AIDS, but faced enormous obstacles. Thus the decision to help towards improving the lives of the children.

Through the assistance, education and sports programmes will be strengthened to provide better protection, care and support for OVC.

"FC Barcelona shows us that sports can be a powerful positive force for children. The team has opened a door of hope to thousands of children," was how UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman summed up the recognition of Swaziland as a country that is worthy of the team's attention and support. The spill-over effects to the country's sporting fratenity, tourism sector and general international image were also some of the positives to come our way from a visit by some of the luminaries in FC Barcelona. Then came another headline grabbing development, a E35 million donation to NERCHA through Global Fund by Product (RED) - an initiative of world famous Irish Rock star and U2 lead singer Bono.The funds generated through the Product (RED) initiative are spent on the programmes that are approved in the Global Fund grant proposals.

Leading products and world brands dedicate a percentage of their profits to the Global Fund. They are then channelled to programmes that positively impact the lives of women and children affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa. Swaziland and Rwanda were chosen as the first countries to receive Global Fund grants that will benefit from income generated by (RED).

Understandably, when the story was published on Monday, some people did not pick that these were not necessarily new funds, but funds that were allocated to NERCHA through its applications for Global Fund grants which were awarded in 2003 and 2005, respectively. NERCHA said yesterday that it had been flooded with calls by people who wanted to access the money and had proposals ready. Some were of the view that this was new money altogether.

The Swazi Observer article stated these were not additional funds from Product (RED), but a replacement of funds earmarked for these grants in the Global Fund 'pot' freeing up the resources for use in other deserving countries. The paragraph read: "While RED funds are not additional to the grants already approved by the Global Fund Board, (RED) income will replace resources earmarked for these grants in the Global Fund 'pot', freeing up these resources for other grant renewals of future funding rounds."

The article also listed a number of projects in Swaziland where (RED) money is supporting Global Fund - financed programms. The calls to NERCHA are another indication that people out there are ready to work once they are given the resources to do so.

The point being made here is that NERCHA's work, its proven record, good management and a good product, co-operation with stakeholders and hardwork has made Swaziland to be recognised in the world as having a strong track record within the Global Fund's performance-based model of evaluation.

 

King leaves for France
By Lucky Simelane
 

From The Swazi Observer

15 February 2007

 

HIS Majesty King Mswati III yesterday morning left the Matsapha Airport for Cannes, France leading a delegation to attend the 24th Conference of Heads of State of Africa and France (Franco-Africa Summit).

 

He was accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMasango. His plane left at around 1a.m.

The summit ends tomorrow. His Majesty is also expected to proceed to Germany.

Discussions at the summit are expected to focus on:

* Africa responding to the exploitation of its raw materials;

* Africa’s position in international organisations;

* The position in South-South Dialogue;

* How the rest of the world perceive Africa;

* The image Africans would like to project;

* Doing away with most common cliches; and

* Ways the parties express national opposition.

The king and his delegation will participate in the summit “within the context of southern Africa’s priority to promote the developmental agenda of the South through the consolidation of North-South relations”.

 

 

‘She said we’re HIV+, we beat her up’
By Starsky Mkhonta
From The Swazi Observer

14 February 2007

 

A woman got more than what she had bargained for after allegedly gossiping about two women to the effect that they were living with HIV.

The women assaulted her for the alleged gossip and she preferred charges against them with the police. Appearing before court, the accused

*Thembi Zwane and *Nzunzu Khoza told the court that they had reasons for assaulting

* Khabo Dlamini as she kept on telling people that they were living with HIV and sleeping around thereby spreading the virus.

Recently appointed Nhlangano National Court President Prince Siphosonkhe presided over the matter. The accused were found guilty and convicted. It was on February 1, 2007 when Dlamini was turned to a punching bag with the women kicking her all over the body in full view of the public. The court heard that Dlamini was left by the two for dead. The fight took place near one of the grocery shops in Ndubazi, outside Nhlangano town.

“She was in the company of her brother when she passed by the place at which we were relaxing. What irked us is that she laughed while passing by and we knew, without doubt, that she was laughing at us but never took any action. When she returned, we confronted her about her actions. This was after having been informed that she had been spreading unfounded allegations that we are living with HIV . We wanted her to explain why she was spreading information she was not sure about,” said Zwane.

A fight is said to have ensued, with onlookers cheering the women. Khoza is said to have later joined in as her friend was seemingly losing the fight. “I did not intend to harm her. In fact, even though she had also labelled me as being living with HIV, my intention was to make peace.

While trying to calm the situation, the complainant spit on my face. I failed to contain myself and reacted by fighting her.”The complainant was left for dead in a pool of blood and her parents were alerted.

When the Court President asked the accused if they had at any stage declared their HIV status to the complainant, they declined.

“Your Worship, we were employed in Pretoria [South Africa] and only returned after my friend [accused one] became sick suffering from tuberculosis (TB). On our return home, she lived on medication, as per the doctor’s prescription. That could be the reason the complainant thought we were living with HIV,” said Khoza.

The accused were sentenced to four months imprisonment with a fine option of E80 each. Fortunately for them, the sentence was suspended.

* Not their real names.

I drank and drove because of stress - lecturer
 

By Starsky Mkhonta
From The Swazi Observer

14 February 2007

A man left the gallery in stitches when he told the court that he had been drinking alcoholic beverages in order to distress.

Drink-driving charged Andrew Zweli Xaba, a lecturer in one of the institutions around the country, told Nhlangano Senior Magistrate Peter Simelane that his mother was sick and for him to overcome stress, he opted to wash down his sorrows with the waters of imortality.

He said his mother’s condition was tormenting him. Xaba was facing two counts. On count one he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and on the second he was charged with transporting passengers using his vehicle, a Datsun 1400 registered SD 782 GS, when its base was not fit to carry passengers. He pleaded guilty to both counts and the court thereafter convicted him as charged. He was arrested last Saturday along the Sandleni public road.

It was during mitigation when he told the court of what had driven him to commit the offence. “Even on the day of my arrest by Hlatikulu traffic police, I was trying to come to terms with the situation at home. My mother is sickly,” stated Xaba. About the passengers, he said he had offered them a ride to their respective homes as they had missed public transport. “Were you not placing yourself in serious danger by drinking alcoholic beverages while driving? Wouldn’t it have hurt your mother, and worsened her condition, to learn that you had been involved in a horrific accident because of driving under the influence of alcohol?” said the magistrate.

For count one, the accused was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with an option of a E1 200 fine.

On the second, he was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment with an option of a E30 fine, but this sentence was suspended. For the principal charge, that of drink-driving, the accused pleaded with the court to be allowed to pay the fine later as all his money had been spent on school fees.

“My appeal to the honourable court is for payment of the fine to be deferred until I manage to raise the money. I would also be glad if the court could as well allow me to do staggered payment,” he said.

The court granted the former request and rejected the latter.

“You can only be allowed to pay the fine in total anytime before the 23rd of February 2007. This should not be later than 3p.m on that date. We object to your request that you be allowed to pay the fine in instalments,” said prosecutor Fikile Nhlabatsi.
Sex with dog man gets two years
Date Published: Thursday, January 1, 1970
From The Swazi Observer

By Sipho Dlamini

 

A Mozambican man who had sex with a dog at Maphiveni area in the Lubombo region has been sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

 

The family dog that the Mozambican had sex with had two weeks old puppies when the sexual attack happened.

Fernando Sithole (28), who pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, committed the offense in September last year, while in a drunken state of mind.

He was sentenced by Magistrate Mandla Mkhaliphi, who told him that what he did was unGodly and totally against nature.

He asked the convict if he ever read the Bible because if he did, he should have been aware that his act was against the dictates of the Holy Book.

Mbutfo Mbingo appeared for the crown in the matter.

Relating how he came to engage in sex with the dog Sithole said he was too drunk on that evening and was totally out of his senses.

He said everything just happening without his notice and that in reality he did not know how to explain the whole event that led his act.

Magistrate Mkhaliphi asked Sithole what he meant when he said he did not know what happened when he had pleaded guilty to the charge in the first place.

“All I can say is that I am sorry Your Worship because I have no explanation for my action on that evening,” Sithole told the court.

The Mozambican had his face down throughout the duration of the trial and would answer questions still facing the ground.

Information gathered was that Sithole had clung to the dog despite beatings that were meted on him by his father who had caught him red handed on the act.

The old Mozambican man is said to have been alerted by the howling of the dog and he immediately went to investigate what could be wrong with it.

He then discovered his son stuck behind the dog and making sexual movements.

He is said to have then grabbed a log and started beating his son who could not respond to anything but concentrated on the business at hand.

The incident is reported to have attracted a huge crowd which watched in disbelief at what was happening.

Police were called to the scene but arrived after Sithole had pulled himself off the dog.

Testicles sliced off, throat slit
Date Published: Thursday, January 1, 1970
From The Swazi Observer

By Nondumiso Dlamini

A Mozambican chopped-off testicles and slit open another’s throat for allegedly having sex while he was in the same room.

The incident happened on Wednesday morning at around 6am at Mvutshini near Mdzimba mountain.

Apparently for a long time, Alede Chauke (20) claims he was annoyed by his room mate and best friend Vincent Matsebula (20) who made noises each time he made love to his girlfriend, also a Mozambican.

The three, together with Chauke’s daughter, share a tiny hovel and a sponge they rent from a landlady at Ezulwini.

On normal days the two appeared to be best friends who were always inseparable. On the day of the incident the two left around 6am and did not return until news spread that one had been mutilated.

Tanele Dlamini, a neighbour, said Chauke returned a while after 6a.m. but without his friend.

“At around 10a.m. we saw a Fire and Emergency Services ambulance approaching and it was being followed by a police van. The vehicles were headed for the mountain near the army camp,” she explained.

It was later gathered that a soldier who patrolled the area discovered Matsebula bleeding profusely and alerted the police and firemen.

It was the same soldier who directed the rescue team to the scene. After taking Matsebula away police came to arrest Chauke whom, ironically, they found holding the former’s daughter while the woman was at the tap, drawing water.

Dlamini said the police questioned Chauke as to why he did that to his friend and that is when he revealed that he was annoyed by the couple when they made love.

Chauke is said to have argued with the arresting officers that he was also human and, therefore, could not stand the moaning and groaning by the two while he imagined his girlfriend far away in Mozambique.

“He then led the police to the nearby hillock where he dug up the knife he used to cut Matsebula’s throat and testicles,” she said, adding that they watched in great shock as all this was happening.

One of Matse’s acquaintances suggested that there may have been a plot to stage an alibi for Chauke.

She told police that Matse came to her to say her boyfriend was taken by three men early in the morning to give him work.

“On Chauke’s return from the hillock alone the two seemed very relieved and happy,” she said. When our news team arrived Matse had already been taken by the police together with Chauke.

The four Mozambicans moved into the rented one-room house in February. They were, and still, unemployed. Neighbours fail to explain how they earned a living except that they cooked meals, washed clothes and bathed, just like the rest of everyone.

The victim, lying critically ill at the Mbabane Government Hospital, is under life support. He is unable to speak because his throat (trachea) was slit open. One of the nurses looking after Matsebula said she had no idea how he survived.

“It’s very unlikely for someone to survive in this state. I understand he lost both his testicles but we still have not checked him as he was last treated in the casualty ward,” she said. When our news crew tried to talk to him no voice came out.

Police Public Relation’s Officer Superintendent Vusi Masuku confirmed the incident and the suspect is currently under police custody.

Chauke was supposed to appear for his remand hearing yesterday morning but was instead taken for confession. It was gathered that Chauke insisted on speaking in Portuguese until the court was forced to engage an interpreter.

Who said skinny women are sexy?
Date Published: Thursday, January 1, 1970
From The Swazi Observer

...with Cassandra Shaw

 

 
I wonder who came up with the theory that thin women are beautiful and sexy. That person might have been out of his or her mind.

There is absolutely nothing as beautiful and sexy as a full-bodied woman.

In society, such women are thought to be fat and plump, but wait a minute, these are the women who make heads turn and also make better wives.

In fact, men want to marry women who really look like ‘women’, complete with full figures. What’s the point of marrying a skinny brat with a thigh size equivalent to a chicken’s?

Such women no longer appeal to the opposite sex, instead they use them then leave because there is nothing to treasure. The sad thing about skinny women is that they like showing off their bony assets (which make us want to puke).

They feel as if they are walking on the moon and their bodies are to die for whereas they are creepy creatures in the form of human beings.

Believe me, I’m not jealous, it’s just that the truth should be told. Some people believe a good model is one who looks anorexic.

Even though I’m not well versed on the type of body features modeling agencies look for, I’m sure they would not want to hire someone who looks like a fish skeleton, but maybe a size 32 or 34 is better.

Like I mentioned earlier, these thin creatures show off their bony assets and expect everyone to appreciate. I then say to myself, “What is appealing about this body because it looks like a malnutritioned child?” Have your say, but I feel full-figured women are naturally beautiful.

I’m a size 34 and proud of it. I don’t care who says what, but I know I am better off than an old lady who doesn’t eat at all just because she wants to be a size 28. It sounds crazy to me because the more you do not eat, the more malnutritioned you look.

Apart from being an undesirable feature, skinny women don’t use their brains for the right reasons.

All they think about are the latest trends in fashion, who’s dating who, who fell pregnant over the festive season and if there is any ‘hot’ guy around town. They also like to buy the most expensive perfume to impress their ‘would be’ dates.

Most of them are selfish, ignorant and unattractive. They puff up their faces and look like purple chameleons. What’s the hype about being slim because every clothing shop has a size to fit almost all body shapes in society.

These ‘slimmers’ go on for days without food, some even going to the extent of having a bottle of baby purity or nestum just to ease the discomfort in their stomachs, then drink gallons and gallons of water.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking water, but these women drink it for the sake of showing off.

It’s very appealing to stare at a woman and see all the features as they are, without having to guess if there is any flesh under those clothes or just skin and bones.

This is not to say people should not follow a healthy diet. There are many people who eat healthy foods and still look beautiful, and they are not skinny and bony, but very beautiful.

If maybe you have friends who always boast about being thin, tell them there is nothing as beautiful, sexy and appealing as a woman who has all the assets in their right proportion!