Following the shocking discovery of a suspected serial killer operating under the guise of religious leadership, One Billion Rising Africa Coordinator Colani Hlatjwako has issued a blistering call to action, demanding that the faith community actively dismantle gender-based violence within its ranks.
Hlathwako insisted that the Church must stand at the forefront of this fight to ensure that places of worship remain genuine sanctuaries rather than hiding zones for dangerous predators who exploit positions of spiritual authority.
The collective outrage peaked today as Pastor Nkosingiphile Zwane officially appeared before the Manzini Magistrates Court. Zwane according to reports faces multiple counts of rape and murder in connection with the horrific deaths of four women. The graphic case has left the Matsapha community reeling after police investigations led to a shallow ditch at Mfabantfu, located near the suspect’s Apostolic Faith Church. It was inside this hidden grave that investigators recovered the badly decomposing bodies of the missing women.
A grim profile of the suspect’s alleged operational methods has emerged from law enforcement details and vicytims who shared how they escaped from the alleged predator. It is alleged that Zwane strategically utilized Facebook to target vulnerable women, luring them to meet him by fabricating employment and business opportunities. Once isolated under the pretense of these professional meetings, the victims were allegedly subjected to sexual assault before being brutally murdered.
According to reports, among the recovered victims is 29-year-old Bongiwe Phethiwe Mkhonta. Her devastated family confirmed that Mkhonta originally disappeared on June 15 after notifying relatives she was traveling to Matsapha to buy inventory for her second-hand clothing enterprise. A critical breakthrough in the investigation materialized when one of the victims prudently snapped a photograph of the suspect and transmitted it to a family member upon arrival.
This vital digital evidence allowed the Royal Eswatini Police Service to accurately track down Zwane, who subsequently capitulated during interrogation and guided detectives directly to the burial ditch.
Compounding public fury are revelations that Zwane actively served as a local community police member, effectively using civic trust as an additional shield to avoid suspicion. Church congregants expressed complete disbelief, noting that archival media shows Zwane confidently leading sermons and networking with established religious leaders while carrying out these heinous acts behind closed doors.
Reacting to the ongoing judicial proceedings, Hlatjwako stated that recent reports of systemic abuse by pastors are deeply disturbing and demand immediate institutional reform. She emphasized that individuals who commit these atrocities must never be allowed to seek sanctuary or protection behind holy titles. Human rights organizations across Eswatini are now mobilizing, urging regional lawmakers to implement tighter oversight on independent religious organizations. Zwane remains in police custody as prosecutors prepare the state’s case for trial.
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