3 Workers allegedly shot

MANZINI - At least three public transport workers were allegedly shot by members of the State security organs during their protest action in Manzini yesterday.

This was according to Muzi Nhleko, who is one of the founding members of Eswatini Kombi and Buses Allied Workers Union (EKABAWU). Nhleko said according to information he had collected in the late afternoon yesterday, at around 6:10pm, two public transport workers were allegedly shot in their feet. He said he also go a report that another one was shot in the back.

It was not clear as to when and where the duo that was shot in the feet were when the shooting incident happened. However, according to the source, the public transport worker, who was shot in his back, got injured in the afternoon while he was with his colleagues near Shoprite Supermarket – near Manzini Bus Rank.

Torched

The source said this was after the Build It Hardware, which is located near Manzini Bus Rank, was torched. He said the public transport worker was shot when the members of the State security organs, mainly the police and soldiers, were attending to the fire at Build It Hardware. He said the public transport worker was treated by the medical staff of the pharmacy which is in the same building with Build It Hardware.

Meanwhile, by the time of compiling this report yesterday evening, Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said they did not have reports of people who were injured during the protest action in Manzini yet.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that some of the protestors staged illegal roadblocks in various areas around Manzini and Matsapha, where they demanded varying amounts of money, between E20 and E50. The deputy police spokesperson confirmed that the police attended some of the illegal roadblocks along the MR3 Public Road.