SWAZILAND POLICE ON RAMPAGE

Swaziland’s newspapers report that Swazi police have been on the rampage again.

An innocent young man was shot in the ribs after he tried to avoid police who were chasing University of Swaziland (UNISWA) students who are protesting against examinations which were due to start this month.

This is not the first time Swaziland newspapers have exposed how Swazi police consider themselves to be a law to themselves. In August 2007 the Times Sunday reported that police shot dead a man in cold blood as he tried to surrender himself after being cornered by armed officers.

In the latest incident, the Times of Swaziland reports that a 14-month-old baby was also almost shot as police forced their way into a private home and opened fire indiscriminately.

The Times reported the incident in its newspaper on Friday (18 January 2008) and also on its website . Unfortunately, the Times does not have an archive on its website which means you can only read the report online on the day it is published.

So, for those who missed the report here is an extended extract.

Visitor shot in UNISWA riot
KWALUSENI – An innocent life was almost lost yesterday afternoon, after a bullet fired by police during yet another violent university riot struck a visitor on the ribs. The young man, a student of the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT), had been visiting a friend outside the campus when the upheaval broke out, resulting in a nasty clash between police and students.

The bullet that hit the SCOT student narrowly missed a 14-month-old baby, who was next to him when the police shot.According to a friend of the injured SCOT student, they were seated on the steps at a Simelane homestead, which is about 150 metres from the university - next to the road.

‘A group of about 10 police officers, armed with batons and guns, approached us. We told them that we were not UNISWA students, but they started quarrelling with us.

‘To avoid trouble, we entered the house, but the police became violent as they pushed the door open and started insulting us,’ said the friend, who did not want to be identified. He said the police forced the injured student out of the house and provoked him with their batons, but he forced his way back inside the house. He said they pushed back the door, which was when one police officer broke the door glass and shot the SCOT student.

He said after shooting him, they continued to insult them and they then assaulted his sister with their batons. Some of the students were injured in the process.

The Swazi Observer also published its account of the shooting. You can find the full report here.

Here are some extracts from the Observer report.

UNISWA STUDENTS INJURED IN RIOT
SEVERAL University of Swaziland students at Kwaluseni Campus were injured during clashes with police yesterday afternoon.

Among those injured is a Swaziland College of Technology student attached to the Swaziland Brewers. Police, however, have denied that any shots were fired or that police assaulted any students, but said they were investigating the allegations though.

Nkosinaye Dlamini is currently battling for dear life at Manzini Clinic after he was shot with a rubber bullet below the heart. The rubber bullet is said to have been embedded in the bowels. Dlamini was inside his rented room opposite the bus terminus near the Kwaluseni campus entrance.

Thembela Simelane, his neighbour, said after giving Dlamini a thorough hiding and a 'parting shot' they went for his house where they found his wife and his brother-in-law.

He claimed that they beat up his wife after breaking the glass door with the nozzle of the gun. He alleged that they then entered the house and proceeded to assault the two.

In another incident, three students were allegedly heavily assaulted by the police while they were studying in their rented flat situated opposite Swazi National High School. The students are Chazile Magagula, Gabsile Dlamini and Ncobile Mashinini. Chazile had a serious injury in the head and other parts of the body. She and her peers were found at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital where she was being attended to by doctors. When interviewed, she said they were inside their flat when they noticed police approaching.

‘I was so scared and I decided to close and lock the door since I feared that they might attack us. Indeed, my fears were confirmed when the police came running and demanded that I open the door. I resisted but they threatened to fire tear gas inside the house if I did not open. I eventually opened the door with the hope that they would talk to us.

‘They jumped inside and started beating us up with sjamboks and kicked us all over the body. I was injured on the head,’ said Chazile, who was soaked in blood and sporting a bandage, which covered the head round the chin. Her peers complained about stomach and body pains, which they claimed were a result of the beating.

Seven other students were reported to be injured and were treated at RFM Hospital.

See also
SWAZI UNI TRIES TO MISLEAD MEDIA
SWAZI UNI OFFERS BOGUS DEGREES
‘SUNDAY’ PROBES POLICE KILLING
POLICE ‘MURDER’ – NEW EVIDENCE