... businessman charged for pointing gun at MP

MANZINI – A businessman is facing a charge for allegedly pointing a gun at former Mkhiweni Member of Parliament (MP) Machawe Mavuso.

Musa Mhlabuhlangene Mkhabela (38) of Lomahasha, who is operating a scrapyard at Moneni in Manzini, has been charged with contravening Section 23(2) of the Arms and Ammunition Act No. 24/1964.

It is said that on July 12, 2022, while at Moneni scrapyard, the accused person allegedly pointed the former legislator with a firearm. Mavuso had gone to the scrapyard to investigate a tip-off he had got that some metal material, which belonged to his constituency, had been stolen and supposedly sold to the business.

According to an impeccable source, the material was bought by an organisation known as Bancobi for Mkhiweni Inkhundla to build a project which would benefit orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS in the constituency.

The source said when the former MP arrived at the scrapyard, he had a heated argument with the businessman and that was when the latter allegedly drew a gun and supposedly pointed Mavuso with it. Police were called to the scene and they also had a hard time calming down the duo.

After the police intervention, the former legislator went to the Manzini Police Station and opened a case against the businessman, who was subsequently arrested on Thursday July 14, 2022. However, he was not locked up, instead, he was warned to appear in court yesterday.

During his appearance in court yesterday, his right to legal representation was explained, but he chose to conduct his own defence. He pleaded guilty, but submitted that he only drew the gun and did not point it at Mavuso.

The Crown said there would be a need to lead evidence and it proposed that the trial should start on August 10, 2022. He was remanded out of custody until August 10, 2022.