Swazi Observer

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THREATS OF MORE DEATHS, WITCHCRAFT AT MANANGA

By Bongumusa Simelane | 2024-09-28

Residents of Nhlanguyavuka and surrounding areas have declared war on those who are stealing and further robbing them of their dagga.

This comes after the residents this week apprehended four people who were accused of robbing some dagga farmers of their dagga where there was a dramatic chase.

This resulted in two people being dead due to the injuries they sustained after the assault. Some of the dagga farmers said residents had already declared that they were sick and tired of people who would come to them and pretend as if they were customers and later rob them of their dagga.

One of the dagga farmers said they would continue to be vicious against anyone who tried to rob them because as dagga farmers, they were not stealing from anyone, but were just trying to earn a living as there are no jobs. He mentioned that as dagga farmers, they would ensure that whoever tried the same stunt will be dealt with.

“We are working hard in the dagga fields and then there are people who will just come and rob us. That is why we say we will never let our hard work easily vanish due to thieves,” said one of the farmers.

What also angered some farmers is that they allegedly got wind that some relatives of one of the deceased had threatened everyone who had a hand in the death of their family members, that they would make sure that through witchcraft they also die.

This, the farmers said, will not end well because they were the ones who were provoked. One dagga farmer even stated that if it calls for them to die for their hard work, then let it be, but they will never easily surrender their dagga to thieves.

They said the problem was that they have been robbed a number of times by thieves and some of them were able to get away with it.

Farmers
The farmers said they had taken the decision to ensure that they dealt with the criminals who steal their dagga. One even acknowledged that dagga-growing was illegal, but maintained that as long as they were not stealing from anyone or causing any social problem in the community, they would be left with no choice, but to grow it to be able to feed their families.

It could be noted that the area is one of the well-known dagga growing areas in the Northern Hhohho region, and most farmers enjoy the fact that they are closer to the border, where their valuable market is found.

The residents also highlighted the plight of unemployment and said people had no other alternative means of earning a living, hence they then ventured into dagga growing. They stated that most people ended up in the dagga trade despite the challenges they face, including that of being robbed.

Some residents, who were by this publication, said the issue of dagga was a very sensitive one, as most people earn a living through it, while it still remains illegal.

They said they feared that there would be a lot of people, who might find themselves arrested due to taking the law onto their own hands. They mentioned that if government can at least legalise dagga, cases of such violence could be minimised.

On Tuesday, eight dagga thieves were pursued by angry farmers, after they had ambushed dagga farmers and robbed them of a dagga consignment.

Four of the robbers were eventually apprehended by the angry farmers, where they were severely beaten and stripped naked.

The robbers were found hiding in the sugar cane fields, where they were running away from the angry farmers who were in pursuit. The dagga thieves had been involved in a dramatic chase with the farmers for some kilometres despite some roadblocks that were mounted by residents and farmers.

The robbers reportedly took the direction towards Mananga Border Gate, in an attempt to flee with the dagga. Some residents said the robbers were trying to cross to South Africa, as it had been always the case with previous attempts.

The victims were brutally assaulted, where they at some point, were made to walk naked in front of the residents and the dagga farmers.

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