By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Crisis is intensifying at the newly opened Magomba Coal Mine as King Mswati’s son Prince Lindaninkhosi allegedly loots the coal with his royal syndicate and refusing to pay suppliers.

The newly opened mining company is currently collapsing, struggling to pay suppliers and banks are reportedly grabbing trucks and other equipment amid failure by suppliers to service loans.

But documents seen by this Swaziland News suggest that, some suppliers approached their lawyers in an attempt to demand due and over-due payments from Magomba Coal Mine but despite consistent demands, the untouchable mining company has been refusing to pay the suppliers.

“At the meeting we confirm being indebted to Matsapha Construction on invoices due and over-due. Nothing in our discussions or conduct should be construed to suggest that any liabilities, obligations, rights or similar have been ceded to Magomba by Matsapha Construction,” reads a letter dated 13th November 2025 and addressed to Matsapha Construction.

It has been reported that, Prince through his right-hand man and Director Churchill Hlatswayo, has been frustrating the investors and,the crisis within the newly established mining company escalated to a point where the investors struggled to pay suppliers and other service providers as bank accounts were frozen.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Director Churchill Hlatswayo asked to respond through the mining company’s Spokesperson regarding this matter.

“I’ve never spoken to the media, can I ask the Spokesperson to respond to your questions”, said the Director but, he subsequently disappeared.

But the challenges within the Magomba Coal Mine come after this publication reported that, investor Victor Ndlovu and Mwelase Mining Director who is operating the Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine was also frustrated and, struggling to operate despite investing millions in the mining business.

Dr. Noah Nhleko, the Commissioner of Mine in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy was contacted by this publication, asked for written questions however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Eswatini has been making global headlines for frustrating investors in the mining sector, the King in his personal capacity and through his Government, holds fifty percent(50%) in all mining companies in the country.

Magomba Mine was recently opened by the King and Prince Lindani is the King’s overseer(Liso LeNkhosi) within the Mine situated at Mpaka in the Lubombo Region.

The crisis at Magomba Coal Mine resulted to banks attaching properties owned by emaSwati’s businesses contracted to the Mine amid failure to service loans, the contractors have been struggling without payments for close to a year now.