Times of Eswatini

Arsonists target another cop’s home

PETROL-BOMBED: The petrol-bombing is said to have happened on Wednesday night when unknown people allegedly threw a petrol bomb resulting in at least two houses being damaged at the homestaed.

- Bonisile Makhubu

PIGG’S EPAK – Within a period of one week, another home belonging to a senior police officer has been targeted by arsonists.

The homestead belonging to a police officer at Mshingishi­ngini was petrol-bombed leaving some of the houses damaged. Mshingishi­ngini is one of the chiefdoms under Ntfonjeni Inkhundla. The exact location of the homestead is known but will not be mentioned for ethical reasons.

It is alleged that the alleged arsonists were travelling in a vehicle.

The petrol-bombing is said to have happened on Wednesday night when unknown people allegedly threw a petrol bomb resulting in at least two houses being damaged at the homestead.

This publicatio­n gathered that the homestead belonged to a couple who are both senior police officers. It is alleged that the targeted houses on the homestead belonged to the children who are also said to be police officers.

The modus operandi of the arson is said to be similar to the one that took place at Emvembili where a homestead belonging to a family of police officers including a high-ranking officer was targeted.

It was also gathered that there were some people inside one of the houses who realised that houses apart from the main house had been set alight.

Extensive damage is said to have been done to the houses which were set alight, damaging the windows as well.

The Chief Police Informatio­n and Communicat­ions Officer Superinten­dent Phindile Vilakati could not comment on the arson.

Meanwhile, this is the second homestead of a senior police officer to be targeted. Another homestead was targeted at Emvembili.

The homestead targetted is the same one where once-popular police officer Cilongo Fakudze has a house.

ShowereD

Fakudze’s house was petrol-bombed. This is the officer who was showered with gifts when he was photograph­ed while on duty in the rain, directing traffic despite not wearing boots or holding an umbrella.

However, last week, his house was destroyed.

According to some of the residents, the fire incident could also be related to an attack at the Ngonini Police Post.

On the same evening, three gunmen allegedly attacked a police officer outside the police post.

They were armed and allegedly ordered the police officer to open the door so that they could set it alight.

The police officer who was attacked is based at Matsamo but he was at Ngonini on the day of the attack.

However, a police officer who was on

“On the same evening, three gunmen allegedly attacked a police officer outside the police post.”

MBABANE – People whose private property was burnt by arsonists during the unrest deserve compensati­on by the state. This is the feeling of political commentato­rs who said that it was an oversight to leave private citizens out of the Reconstruc­tion Fund that caters for only businesses.

The suggestion comes in the wake of arson attacks to homes of people who are thought to be ‘defenders’ of the state.

These include Superinten­dent Clement Sihlongony­ane the Manzini Regional Crime Branch Officer, whose rondavel was burnt to ashes, Sihle Dlamini the Estate Manager at King’s Office whose parental home was burnt extensivel­y; Police officer Cilongo Dlamini, whose house was burnt down and a soldier from Bhunya, whose house was also set alight, to name but a few.

Some citizens such as Director of Communicat­ions at the King’s Office Percy Simelane, MP Lutfo Dlamini and Police Academy Commander Vusi Masuku suffered damages during a spate of petrol bombings between 2000 and 2010.

“The fact that people are not compensate­d will work against the state.

“These people are defenders of the country and if they are terrorised and then not compensate­d, they may be compelled to keep their mouths shut and withhold their strength,” said the commentato­r who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal by the arsonists.

“Personally, I can’t risk divulging my name because I am a pensioner and would not have money to rebuild my home if it were to be bombed,” he said.

He said in some states, people targeted by criminals while doing official work are compensate­d, so as to deter the criminals from coming back.

“If the arsonists learn that it is taxpayer’s money that rebuilds the homes, then they may be discourage­d from continuing with their actions. This is because if they bombed 10 times, the state would still rebuild the house over and over with taxpayer’s money,” he said.

Superinten­dent Sihlongony­ane said he could not comment because the matter was reported to his employer.

“If I reported to my employer there is nothing that I can say about it. But if you ask me if I would support a notion to have a fund to compensate people, then yes I would endorse it,” he said.

Pastor Sihle Dlamini wondered if the Reconstruc­tion Fund only catered for businesses and not everyone affected by the unrest.

He said the Committee that was charged to look after the Fund should say something about this.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairperso­n Mluleki Dlamini said the Fund only catered for businesses and did not cover people’s homes and cars, according to the regulation­s.

The Reconstruc­tion Fund was establishe­d by His Majesty King Mswati III during Sibaya in July this year after damage estimated at about E1 billion was caused to businesses and private property during the June 28-29 unrest. His Majesty allocated a seed capital of E500 million and corporate companies and individual­s pledged varying amounts that increased the budget for reconstruc­tion to about E1 billion. The fund regulation­s make it a crime for anyone to apply for assistance on wrong informatio­n. The regulation­s state that the object of the fund is to provide partial financial assistance to the businesses that were affected by the political unrest in the country by providing easily accessible grants to both formal and informal sectors to cater for the reconstruc­tion or rehabilita­tion of the business buildings or premises.

The fund, according to the gazette, is also meant to provide business grants for the purpose of restoring or replacemen­t of machinery or equipment which is vital for business re-opening and recovery.

Also, the fund is also meant to provide business grants for the purpose of compensati­on for loss of stock for micro and small enterprise­s (SMEs). In terms of administra­tion of the fund, the gazette states that it shall be administer­ed and managed by the EswatiniBa­nk through the principal secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Finance.

“The day-to-day management of the fund shall be carried out by a management committee. The minister shall, at the commenceme­nt of the fund, set aside E500 million as a start-up. The ministry shall enter into a management agreement with the Eswatini Bank for administra­tion and maintenanc­e of the fund.

“The Eswatini Bank shall open a dedicated account for the fund which shall be in the name of the fund. The accountant general shall disburse monies to the fund after the approval of the PS of the Ministry of Finance,” the gazette states.

 ?? (File pic). ?? Police officers at a police post that was targetted by gunmen on Wednesday night .
(File pic). Police officers at a police post that was targetted by gunmen on Wednesday night .

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