Swazi Observer

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SPEAKER’S HOME PETROL BOMBED

By SIFISO DLAMINI | 2021-11-29

House of Assembly Speaker Petros Mavimbela’s home has been petrol bombed and gunshots fired by unknown men in the early hours of yesterday morning. Mavimbela and his family escaped unharmed in what he labelled a failed attempt by the unknown men as both his car and house which were targeted sustained minor damages.

The speaker’s home is located at Kazondwako near Bhunya. The incident was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Phindile Vilakati who said the police were still investigating the matter “It is true, the incident occurred and we are currently investigating the matter,” she said.

She further mentioned that initial investigations indicated that there were more than 10 rounds of ammunition fired towards Mavimbela’s house and vehicle. While narrating the ordeal, Mavimbela said the incident took place after midnight.

He said while he was asleep, he was woken up by a loud bang and when he went to investigate what was going on through the bathroom window he found his vehicle, a new Toyota Prado had been bombed. He said he realised that he was under attack and quickly ran to check on his children.

“It was around 0015 hours and I was woken up by a loud noise and when I went to investigate what was going on, I found my new vehicle engulfed in flames and realised we were under attack and rushed to check on my children as I was alone with them in the house while my wife was away,” he said.

He added that while trying to get his children to safety, another petrol bomb was hurled towards his house and he quickly gathered the children in the passage and away from the windows. He said luckily, the house and vehicle did not catch fire after both the petrol bombs were discharged.

He said when the assailants realised that the vehicle and the house were not catching fire, they opened fire aiming at the vehicle as well as the house where more than 10 shots were fired. “I suspect that when they discovered that the car and house did not catch fire, they opened fire towards the car and the house on three different occasions,” he said.

He mentioned that an hour before the incident occurred, he heard his dogs barking and suspected that they could have escaped after the first petrol bomb was discharged. He said together with his family they remained hidden in the house passage while the assailants fired numerous rounds towards the house on three different occasions.

He said the bullets hit the vehicle, walls as well as windows. He said he contacted the police who promptly responded to the call and arrived at the scene. He said thereafter, another team of police officers including the bomb squad also arrived and collected evidence. …………………

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