By PHEPHILE MOTAU, SIFISO NHLABATSI and SIBONISO NKAMBULE | 2023-10-31

It was literally a bad day in the office for chiefs at yesterday’s Sibaya as they came under fire from disgruntled members of the public who called upon the king to intervene in resolving disputes in their areas.

On a day when the rains came down at Sibaya, members of the public came down hard on chiefs, accusing them of failing the authorities in dealing with matters brought before them.

It was literally free rein on chiefs as well as those working closest with the authorities who were battered by several speakers in yesterday’s session.

Chief Mashampu, Chief Senzangakhona, Prince Matatezela, Themba Masuku and Chief Malambule were among a few who were in the firing line for the handling of several matters under their jurisdiction.

Having controlled the sessions since day one with authority and calm, the acting Ludzidzini Governor Mashampu Khumalo had his day in the rain when one speaker accused him of mishandling his case.

Khumalo is also Ezulwini Royal Kraal Chief and was an admirable picture of calm as his subject utilised his three minutes to make his grievance, telling Sibaya that he was now like a Palestinian living in the Gaza strip – claiming that he had been rendered homeless.

“In 2012 things changed and I was told that I did not belong to Mvutjini, yet the ID which I possess is registered under the same acting Ludzidzini Governor Mashampu,” Johannes Sikhosana stated, much to the surprise of Sibaya.

Despite that indvuna was standing a few metres away from him and in charge of the session, Sikhosana did not let off.

“Who am I to a person of  a status of an attorney general, I have tried approaching His Majesty through Khandlela, however, I am always told to come back the following day,” Sikhosana narrated, to which the audience chuckled.

He said it was clear that the people next to His Majesty were letting him down. “Ngunaba bantfu labaseceleni kwakho labanemajobo lanemakhikhi,” Sikhosana stated in vernacular.

Another speaker, Ncamiso Dlamini from Vusweni under Chief Mandanda, told Sibaya of a dispute of two stamps in the area that was causing them no peace in his area.

Dlamini said they were failing to access funding from such organisations as the Inhlanyelo Fund due to the dispute.

He told Sibaya that they had tried to involve His Majesty, but they get sent away every time they try to see him.

Another speaker raised concerns about chiefs encroaching on their land at Vusweni.

Wilson Tsabedze said Vusweni has been without a chief for a longtime and in 2019 a chiefs’ council led by acting Ludzidzini Governor Themba Ginindza came to their chiefdom, alleging that they were sent by His Majesty King Mswati III.

Tsabedze said they were told that they were assessing the area to see if it was well taken care of. He explained that the Vusweni council led them and they were requested to draft every detail of the assessment down and produce a report.

 He explained that the report was submitted to relevant authorities at Ludzidzini. According to Tsabedze, during COVID-19 pandemic, another team of princes came to Vusweni claiming that they were sent by His Majesty to introduce Prince Senzangakhona as the new chief of the area.

“We were requested to go to Ludzidzini and thank Their Majesties for the chief installation.

We came to Ludzidzini and we detailed the matter to the council and we were told that they don’t know anything. Even the king’s advisors, Liqoqo told us that they did not know anything,” Tsabedze said.

He went on to state that they were unable to do anything in their area which had even lead to nearby chiefdoms encroaching in their area.

“These chiefdoms for example, Sigombeni and Dlangeni under Chief Nsukumbili, they are taking our land. The land is finished,” he said.

Chief Matatazela accused of land-grab

A woman who identified herself as LaMatfunywa said following the death of her husband, she had become a plaything in society.

She said she has had her properties burnt, been shot at and scorned. She said she had no home and while she was at Sibaya, she did not know where her children were.

LaMatfunywa said she was mistreated by Umphankomo Royal Kraal under Chief Matatazela and his wife LaNgozwana who she alleged sent people to shoot her on September 1, 2008. She said while taking part in the 40/40 celebration, her home was burnt down.

She said Nkumbeni was home to King Sobhuza II and she was afraid that she would be blamed for speaking out.

"Your Majesty I am here to report that iNkumba has been destroyed and our property burnt. After that, they are given the land," she said.

DPM’S OFFICE ALSO REPORTED FOR TAKING WIDOWS MONEY

The deputy prime minister’s office was also reported for misappropriating money that was meant for maintenance.   

Rose Matsenjwa who made a submission at Sibaya said the deputy prime minister’s office failed to pay maintenance money for two months and when they enquired the office sent them on a wild goose chase.

She said she has heard the deputy prime minister’s office being mentioned a number of times at the Sibaya. She said that office has misappropriated funds belonging to orphaned and vulnerable children.

Matsenjwa said as widows they were told that they would now be collecting their monthly maintenance money through the deputy prime minister’s office.

She said, however, they were not getting that money hence at some point in time they ended up not receiving money for two months. According to Matsenjwa when they enquired about the whereabouts of that money they were told to approach the treasury department.

Department

“However, when we got to the treasury department we were informed that the money was deposited into the deputy prime minister’s account and we have never received that money up to today,” Matsenjwa lamented. He urged the media to investigate the matter and expose the corruption which has led to them losing their money.

Woman still waiting to meet king, 10 years later

A frustrated and desperate woman shocked Sibaya when she narrated how she had been sent from pillar to post when all she wanted was a chance to see her king.

On a day when speaker after another took out their thorns,  Dumsile Dlamini from Siteki touched many when she informed His Majesty that the people around him were corrupt.

She alleged that despite bringing two cows as the custom of kwetfula entails, she still could not be granted an opportunity to have audience with Their Majesties.

Opportunity

This is despite that she had been promised that she would be granted an opportunity, but this has been in vain since 2013.

Dlamini also took the opportunity to reveal that the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) hospital was being mismanaged, with money set aside for orderlies never accounted for.

According to Dlamini, government recently set aside a four per cent salary increment, yet management had allegedly decided that the orderlies would not get the increment as they were not under government.

She then implored the king to ensure that the next prime minister would pay attention to the issues of the hospital, further appealing to the Public Accounts committee (PAC) to look closely into the hospital.

Acquired

Dlamini disclosed that her two cows  she had acquired with the help of Princes, Sicalo and Majaha and Princess Sikhanyiso had been taken without the fulfilment of the promise by the King’s Office.

“I brought two cows in 2013 to thank the king for what Emazinyane had done for me, but seeing the king has not happened. The people close to you, Your Majesty have not called me since, which means that they took the cows as their own,” she said.

‘Build Prisons for corrupt people’

There was a huge laughter at the People’s Parliament when one speaker suggested that government should construct prisons for corrupt individuals.

Calisile Dlamini from Lozitha raised concerns about corruption, saying people must be held accountable.

She was speaking during the seventh day of the People’s Parliament commissioned by His Majesty on Monday last week at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence.

His Majesty invited the nation to help him identify the next prime minister and also discuss the socio-economic issues of the country, amongst other issues.

Dlamini said there were monies which were being misused by certain individuals who are later not held accountable.

 She urged His Majesty to build prisons not even correctional facilities, so that the people who have been found to have misused public fund, experience harsh conditions.

Dlamini stated that once inside the prison, the person would never think about repeating the same illegal practices.

According to Dlamini, Emaswati love their king but the people doing corrupt practices continued to tarnish the country’s image as they know that no one will hold them accountable for their wrong doings.

“I have come here to plead with you your Majesty, that the prison must be constructed so that all those that are practising corruption even if they have left the country, be extradited to face their crimes. This must not happen that a person because he or she is powerful is exonerated on their crimes. They always sent people to do their dirty job  while they remain behind,” Dlamini said.

She stated that every person involved in crime must be held accountable with the built prison motivating people not to engage in crime.

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