By EDN Reporter
The Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) is running the risk of being proscribed under the Suppression of Terrorism Act No.3 of 2008, as reports linking it to the spate of terrorist activities across the country continue to grow.
Last week, police arrested Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF) self-proclaimed Commander Thabo Kunene together with one Sibusiso Nkomonye, who is alleged to have been behind the railway line bombing last month at Mpaka and is alleged to have had contact with former Siphofaneni MP and SWALIMO leader Mduduzi Simelane.
Simelane, who is a fugitive of the law and currently in hiding in England, was reported in audio clips encouraging his followers to engage in terrorist activities, including burning schools and other public structures.
Further, Simelane’s son, Zweli Mpendulo Simelane and two other accused, Siphosethu Malinga and Mxolisi Jabulani Simelane are currently behind bars facing six counts, three of contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act, two of robbery and the other for illegal entry into the country.
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Zweli Simelane, a SWALIMO executive member and his two co-accused are linked to the murder of His Majesty’s Correctional Services officer Mbongeni Mthayi Dlamini on November 4, 2022, at Sidvokodvo as well as arson on December 22, 2022, and for attempting to attack 14 Cabinet ministers, 15 Parliamentarians and Senator Princess Phumelele by allegedly dismantling the Phuzumoya railway.
Further, the late Muzi Mmema who was also a SWALIMO member was implicated by Sibusiso Nxumalo to have been instrumental in recruiting people for training to cause havoc in the country. Recently, Mduduzi Simelane has allegedly been linked with Kunene who is facing 43 counts.
SWALIMO would not be the first political party to be proscribed under the STA as the Government banned the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), SWAYOCO, Swaziland Solidarity Network and Umbane People’s Liberation Army in 2008 after allegedly being involved in terrorist activities.
In June 2022, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini used the same law to declare Zweli Martin “Zwemart” Dlamini and his Swaziland News Online publication a specified entity for facilitating acts of terrorism.
The PM cited Section 28(1) which states; Where the Attorney-General, the Commissioner or person responsible for the prevention of corruption or other investigative or financial body has reasonable grounds to believe that –(a) an entity has knowingly committed, attempted to commit, participated in committing or facilitated the commission of, a terrorist act; or (b) an entity is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of or in association with, an entity referred to in paragraph (a), – the Attorney-General, or any of the other persons mentioned in this subsection after consultation with the Attorney-General may recommend to the Minister that a Notice be made under subsection 2 in respect of that entity and, subsection 2 reads; where the Minister is satisfied that the material to support the recommendation made under subsection (1), the Minister may by notice published in the government gazette declare the entity in respect of which the recommendation has been made to be a specified entity.
Several of the currently arrested solidarity forces and their associates have links to SWALIMO and other proscribed entities and individuals. It appears that with current evidence before courts, SWALIMO and its leadership may soon find itself being declared a specified entity and some people are even wondering why it is taking the government so long to act.
Even though investigations are still ongoing, the evidence that has been shared by other news publications places SWALIMO at the centre of the terror that has engulfed the country in the past two years. Many peace-loving and patriotic emaSwati feel that even though His Majesty’s Government upholds strict principles of democracy, it is time they apply the Act as it was to the other bodies and further declare some of their leaders as specified entities for their role in the terrorist attacks.
Some people who spoke on condition they remain anonymous stated that it was not sufficient that the Commander was arrested but entities that promoted terrorism needed to pay the price.
Formation
SWALIMO was founded by Simelane in November 2021 on Facebook. He asserted that they are a group that advocates for democratic reforms in Eswatini. They claimed to have over 20 000 members, a figure that drew a lot of criticism, with many questioning how they arrived at it.
The structural organogram has the National Executive Committee that Simelane directly appoints, District Executive Committees also appointed by him, and Branch Committees. Simelane has been subject to controversy within his own party with some pointing out the blatant hypocrisy and questionable leadership skills.
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He has been in most instances questioned by his own members who have accused him of a dictatorial leadership style. Many have left his political party which is barely three years old.
Former Ezulwini Town Mayor and Pam Golding Director Busi Mayisela who was National Chairperson and Siphetfo Dlamini (Secretary General) left the organization citing that Simelane is a dictator and can’t even lead in a leaked and widely circulated WhatsApp audio. Gospel musician Mzwakhe Myeni, who also resigned from SWALIMO, shared the same sentiments about Simelane.
Implications
SWALIMO has been implicated in almost all the breakthroughs that the police have made on the terror groups that rendered anarchy in the Kingdom. At first, it was when police arrested Musa Clement Kunene and Msindiso Ntshalintshali on November 8, 2022, at Mbhuleni, Matsapha.
Kunene who was a top SWALIMO member and his co-accused were reportedly found with two explosives, live bullets and an Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) uniform and they were charged with contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2018.
Another arrest was that of SWAYOCO President Ncamiso Mabuyakhulu and Philane Sihlongonyane who is a member of the SWALIMO Youth Wing who are facing 29 counts, including seven murders of security officers, unlawful possession of firearms and rounds of ammunition, kidnapping and robbery.
Proscribe
The Kingdom of Eswatini has charged the culprits for contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2018 and other crimes, many are of the view that government must declare and proscribe SWALIMO.
In 2008, the Eswatini government proscribed PUDEMO, a political movement that was banned after being implicated in a string of bombings.
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Emaswati commended the action taken by the government in proscribing that entity. Now they are of the same view that SWALIMO must be declared a proscribed entity.
The STA has in the past seen some activists like the late Amos Mbedze convicted and served years in prison for the failed Lozitha bridge bombing whilst Zonke Dlamini and Thandaza Silolo (now with SWALIMO) were arrested and served time in jail.
The likes of former PUDEMO president Mario Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini were also arrested but released on bail for contravening the same law.
