Manzini: Attempted murder accused, Pastor Sikhumbuzo Shongwe says “I personally do not condone gender-based violence (GBV). However, in instances such as my case, the problem is that people look at one side of the matter. As men, we are abused here in Eswatini but the challenge is that there is nowhere we can report.”
Shongwe is currently out on bail following an altercation in which he produced a pistol and fired five shots at his estranged wife five times in a fit of rage. Three of the shots hit his wife, Jabulile Nkonyane, two of which entered her upper torso and one which lodged itself in her head.
Shongwe is now considering establishing a men’s organization where men that are abused will report their cases. “I think like men, if we were given a platform and our grievances on abuse were heard, we would be getting the necessary assistance but what happens now is when abused men report their cases they are not taken seriously but when women report something minor, it turns out to be a huge issue,” he said.
Speaking to Independent News, he said there are many such examples in social media platforms such as Facebook where people overlook the side of men and concentrate on how women are victims of abuse without establishing what really happened.
With regard to the shooting incident involving his wife, Jabulile Nkonyane, Shongwe said there is nothing hidden that shall not come out to light. He said with God, all shall be uncovered and what is important though for him is to thank the support spiritually, financially and other support he received from many people. “One may try to hide the truth but one day, it will eventually come out, one day it will resurrect and speak for itself. What happened is really painful, I cannot lie. I really thank God that there was no life lost, what is important is life. I could also have been killed on that day,” he said.
“I am happy that even when I was in jail after the shooting incident, he was able to administer the Word of God and people were helped. I am still a born-again child of God and I will never move away from him even if there are challenges.” My situation can be likened to Zacchaeus in the Bible who wanted to see Jesus but people obstructed his view. He said people are now obstructing his view to see Jesus and just as Zacchaeus did, he will climb up a tree to see the Lord and the Lord will then invite him as he invited Zacchaeus to his house in the Bible” prophesied Shongwe.
“I would have been really hurt and devastated if she died. The truth of the matter is that nobody is happy about what happened. That incident never made me happy” Shongwe said.
Meanwhile, the Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse, (SWAGAA) Executive Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini said it is not true that men do not get help when abused in the country.
“We have announced countless times that our offices are ready to assist men that are victims of abuse. Shongwe is a LiSwati and he knows this very well, we speak of it every day. We now have a unit specifically set up for men who are victims of abuse. This unit enables men to comfortably access help,” said Dlamini. She said it was disappointing for Shongwe to say he did not condone gender-based violence yet he was a perpetrator. Someone who does not condone it does not do it. He must just let the law take its cause,” she said.
Dlamini said many people have challenges in their marriages but that did not mean they should resort to violence.
Sikhumbuzo Prays For Gods Intervention in Political Unrest
Pastor Sikhumbuzo has extended prayers for God’s intervention in the current political unrest in the country. The All Nations Christian Church in Zion pastor said they noted with sadness the ongoing riots and arson attacks that have led to the closure of schools.
“We pray that God extends his holy hand and that the people of this country listen to one another. Schools and buildings are burnt which means that we are moving backward in development. We pray for a quick solution but without God, we cannot find a solution,” he said. He quoted 2 Samuels: Chapter 24 where King David sought help from God when in serious trouble.
“I pray for their Majesties, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the government, and the entire nation that all this may quickly pass,” he said.
Discussion about this post