Schoolteacher Maxwell Myeni
who tackled a gun-wielding police commander and wrestled him to the ground during
a peaceful demonstration in Swaziland in which police shot and wounded a
demonstrator has been arrested.
A photograph of Myeni
tackling Station Commander Raphael ‘Sikheshekheshe’ Maseko
of the Manzini police station appeared in the Observer on Saturday newspaper and on the Internet following
the incident on Friday (24 August 2018).
Maseko had pointed his gun at Myeni moments earlier.
Willie Dlamini, a teacher from Salesian High School, was
wounded in the arm when police opened fire with live ammunition during a
protest about salaries.
The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) in a statement
published on social media hours after the arrest said Myeni was taken at about 5.00 pm on Sunday (26
August 2018) at his home in Lavumisa by the arm of the police force known as Lukhozi.
It said, ‘Six heavily armed
members of this royal Lukhozi arm bulldozed their way with two white vans into
his house at Lavumisa.’
It added the Lukhozi police
was ‘known for its torture of prisoners who often end up dead. Their greater
focus is often on human rights activists, unionists, youth and student
activists and members of political parties.’
It added Myeni was taken to
Sigodvweni Police Station in Matsapha, a ‘notorious torture centre’.
No charges have been
announced.
Myeni tackled police
commander Raphael ‘Sikheshekheshe’ Maseko who is seen still holding the gun he pointed
at him. Picture: Swazi Observer
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