Boycott Umhlanga - PUDEMO National Organising Secretary
NSULUTANE – Boycott Umhlanga! This was a statement made
People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) National Organising Secretary Penuel Malinga, to residents of Nsulutane community under Malindza Umphakatsi yesterday morning, during the funeral of Thandekile Kunene, who was shot dead by police officers last Sunday at Mpaka area.
Thandekile died on the scene of the shooting and a soldier, Dumsani Tsabedze died after admission at the Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital Out-Patient-Department (OPD) on the same morning.
The duo were found together with four others around Mpaka area just a few metres from the Mpaka Shopping Centre, loading a money safe that they had allegedly found on the road. The money safe had been stolen from an MTN outlet.
During the funeral procession, Malinga who spoke on behalf of the slightly 2 000 members of political formations and members of the Nsulutane community said it was imperative that the community elders did not allow their children to attend the annual Umhlanga ceremony on the basis that emaSwati were not recognised and taken seriously on their quest to have a democratically elected government.
WILL OF THE PEOPLE
The PUDEMO executive member said those families who would defy the order and allow their children to attend the reed dance, should know that they were betraying the will of the people.
He said by boycotting the reed dance they would be sending a message that emaSwati were not willing to adhere to the current status quo of being ruled by a government that was not elected by the majority.
The funeral procession took place at around 7am whereby the mourners comprising of community members and representatives of political formations namely PUDEMO, Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Eswatini and Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLS) marched a distance of 1km to the burial site.
Also present were SWALIMO Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo, former Mbabane Mayor Sikhatsi Dlamini and members of the Malindza Umphakatsi inner council.
Before the funeral on Saturday evening at around 6pm, over 50 members of political formations joined by members of Nsulutane community burned tyres and logs along the Mpaka-Sikhuphe Airport road and blocked the road for almost an hour. Police officers aboard five cars together with some army members came and dispersed the crowds and put out the fire. About 10 soldiers ordered some of the people to do push-ups and other exercises as part of the punishment for setting the fire on the road.
Nsulutane community members and representatives of the political formations ran helter-skelter for cover after seeing the advancing cars of the security forces.
The incident took place during the night vigil of the late Thandekile Kunene.
Today, the Nsulutane community will also pay their last respect to the late Dumsani Tsabedze whose homestead is situated just 200m from that of Thandekile.