Fire, blockade ahead of Hosea recruitment

HLUTHI – Members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) had to remove tree branches and rocks that had blocked the road to Hosea.

This happened yesterday when the army had gone to Hosea for the ongoing recruitment exercise.

It was gathered that the registration of the car which was driven by the people who blocked the road was noted by members of the army as there was a tree-cutting machine inside the vehicle.

It is worth noting that the tree branches were fresh. Upon arrival at the constituency, a house used for constituency services within the centre was found torched. It was said that the house was torched at around 6am yesterday.

In an interview with the constituency centre security guard, he stated that he was patrolling and was called by someone at the gate to inform him that the road had been blocked.

He said upon return to his duty post, he noted that there was smoke coming from the house. He said there was suddenly fire coming out of the windows and he called the police.

Ashes

When this publication arrived at the constituency centre, personnel from the Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services were putting out the fire. Everything inside the house was burnt to ashes.

Meanwhile, the rest of the exercise ran smoothly as over 400 aspiring soldiers participated.

In an interview with Hosea Indvuna Richard Vilane, he stated that they were grateful that the exercise ran smoothly. He said there were people who had prior suggested that they should boycott the recruitment exercise. He stated that there was division among the youth as some wanted to participate in the exercise.

“I would not want to comment much on the issue of the blocked roads because I do not know who is responsible but I heard there were people who were suspected, though I was not there,” he said.

When reached for comment on the issue, UEDF Public Affairs Officer 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo confirmed that they removed tree branches and rocks from the road as they made their way to Hosea.

She stated that the exercise went smoothly thereafter.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superinand that no one had been arrested by the time of going to print.

Hosea winners (from L) : Sipho Mndzebele, Ndumiso Mkhabela, Thabani Gumbi, Sanele Simelane, Nkosazane Ntshangase and Nondumiso Sikhondze. (R) Sipho Myeni who was disqualified for his disability.

A 17-year-old who could not participate because she will be turning 18 in November, being escorted out by a member of the UEDF.

Some of the aspiring soldiers doing the jack-knife exercise at Hosea Constituency.

Hosea aspiring soldiers doing push-ups.

(Pics: Melisa Msweli) An aspiring soldier doing push-ups.