Africa-Press – Eswatini. Kwaluseni MP Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini has broken his silence on his decision to testify in the case of the two legislators MP Mduduzi Mabuza and MP Mthandeni Dube.
In an interesting twist of events, the MP has disclosed that it was not his decision to become a state witness in the case of the two MPs, but that he was summoned to appear in court.
The legislator has further clarified that he tried by all means to find a way around it, but he was threatened with jail time and being charged with contempt since this was a state matter.
On June 15, 2021, during the height of the delivery of petitions at Tinkhundla centres, while attending a council meeting at the Inkhundla centre, Dlamini and other council members were attacked and pelted with stones and forced to run for cover.
The MP and the council members recorded statements with the police following the incident. Fast-forward to March 3, 2022, social media went abuzz after it was leaked that the MP was to testify against MPs Bacede Mabuza and Dube in their ongoing high profile trial.
Dlamini has finally decided to open up on the matter following a series of events, which has culminated in the recent arson attack at his Inkhundla centre, which he feels could be linked to his appearance in court to render his testimony.
This was revealed during an interview held at Mbhuleni, Kwaluseni yesterday afternoon.
The MP vehemently stated that it was not his individual decision to become a state witness in the ongoing trial, and he had no idea how and why he was selected since he was not the only one who recorded the a statement.
“I do not know how or why I was singled out because about five of us recorded statements with the police following the incident at the Inkhundla centre in June last year,” clarified Dlamini. He further revealed that he was approached in November 2021, and informed he was selected to become a state witness and tried his level best to decline the request, as he had no intention whatsoever of testifying against his colleagues.
“I was then served with a summon and informed that this was a state matter and my failure to appear in court would be met with consequences. It was stated in the summon that my failure to appear in court would result in me being charged with contempt of court, and would be fined an unspecified fee and or sentenced to six months imprisonment and further subjected to hard labour while serving my sentence,” added Dlamini.
He pleaded with the public to understand that he did not just wake up and decide to testify and the basis of his testimony had nothing to do with the arrested MPs, but solely on the incident that took place during the petition delivery at the Inkhundla centre.
He said as a noble citizen and a legislator, he could not defy the summon but was compelled to lead by example and abide by the country’s laws. He further blamed the reporting by one of the local newspapers, and claimed that could have played a part in the recent arson attack at the Inkhundla centre.
On his appearance to render his testimony, the MP revealed that he felt his life was in danger following the reports that he was to testify against the arrested MPs.
He requested for protection for him and his children, who were forced to go into hiding due to fears for their safety.
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