SWAZI NEWSPAPER WAS BOMB TARGET

Swazi police have unearthed a plot to bomb Swaziland’s Swazi Observer newspaper.

The newspaper which is in effect owned by King Mswati III, was the intended target of bombers, who when thwarted by security at the newspaper’s offices, attempted instead to blow up a bridge.

Two of the men were killed when the bomb exploded prematurely on 20 September near King Mswati's palace at Lozitha, outside Mbabane, the capital city.

According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Swazi police claim one of the survivors of the bomb blast, Amos Mdedzi, a South African from Limpopo, confessed before a magistrate that he and his friends were on a mission to bomb government structures, including the Observer newspaper offices in Mbabane.

According to police, the man said they failed to gain entry into the targeted areas because of tight security. They then consoled themselves by bombing the overhead bridge.

In a media release, MISA says the Observer was targeted because it was a pro-government media.

Observer chief executive Myzo Magagula was quoted in the local media as having expressed shock at the act, but said they were not aware that they were targeted for bombing.

MISA says bombings in Swaziland have become a common thing as progressive forces step up pressure to force the kingdom to democratise. Close to 10 bombing incidents have occurred in the past few months but there had been no loss of life until this latest incident.