Swaziland: Weapons impounded for safety

  1. Posted on Friday 24 December 2010 - 07:51
    Mtheto Lungu
    Image of Mtheto Lungu
    Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
    Community police in Matsapha, Swaziland, have seized weapons from a local shabeen to ensure residents a safe festive season.
    Swaziland Traditional Dancers (women) performing a cultural dance.
    The assortment of weapons, discovered at Bizzah Dlamini’s night-spot, include four spears, knives, baton, bush knives and a slasher.

    Jabulani Dlamini, community policing spokesperson of Mbhuleni area said the weapons were found stashed inside a bedroom.

    "A relative who was cleaning the house made the shocking discovery. The terrified relative then came to report the matter here," Dlamini said, adding they did not meet any resistance from patrons.

    Bizzah once openly told the crime watch group he would purchase 80 spears to fight community police who he alleged were terrorising his customers.

    Currently, the businessman is serving five years imprisonment for attempted murder after stabbing a resident with a spear.

    Jabulani promised they will hand over the weapons to the state police.

    "We would like to appeal to locals not to keep such arsenal homes. However, this does not mean a homestead should not have any sort of protection. Each homestead should have at least a spear and a bush knife," he suggested.

    Dlamini said they will continue with their clean-up campaign so that people will have a great Christmas.

    "We are also urging residents to stay indoors during the festive season because thugs will be targeting those who will be enjoying themselves. At least by 10pm, when we start patrolling, people should be inside their houses," he advised.

    In the area, he added, even sitting on the door steps is not safe.

    "As you can see, these people carry such weapons. No one is safe," he said.

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