By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Second (2nd) Lieutenant Mkhonzeni Nxumalo, an Army State Intelligence Officer allegedly met Chief of Staff Major General Prince Vusummango Dlamini to spill the beans about how Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze instructed him and other intelligence officers to monitor Brigadier General Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini who was subsequently attacked by the Military Police, with military weapons.

It has been disclosed that, 2nd Lieutenant Mkhonzeni Nxumalo who was based at Mdzimba Army Barracks but, working at the Army Headquarters Cyber Intelligence Office, ran to the Army Chief of Staff last week after receiving a letter from Mashikilisane’s right-hand man Brigadier General Mthiza Dlamini, removing and transferring him from the Army Headquarters and/or Ministry of Defense Offices, to Mbuluzi Army Barracks.

2nd Lieutenant Nxumalo who subsequently expressed bitterness and has been resisting the transfer, allegedly told Army Chief of Staff Major General Prince Vusummango how Brigadier General Mthiza Dlamini and the Army Commander instructed the Intelligence Unit to systematically ‘plant’ electronic recording devices at the Army Commander’s Office and then ‘bribe’ ordinary citizens who will visit the Army Headquarters and act as if they were approaching the Army Commander to report corruption against the Army Chief of Staff, the Army Chief of Staff was sympathizing with Brigadier General Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini after the attack by the Military Police allegedly commanded by Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze.

The Army Commander, according to senior insiders within the Executive Command of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF) and as revealed by 2nd Lieutenant Nxumalo who is resisting the “transfer and spilling the beans”, wanted to present the ‘cooked’ information including recordings to Commander-in-Chief King Mswati in an attempt to clean his name and convince Mswati that, he was not the one demanding bribes for jobs in the Army but, its Major General Prince Vusummango and other senior officers.

King Mswati, the Commander-in-Chief of the Military, is alleged to be putting pressure on Fakudze and his administration, demanding answers amid reports suggesting that, emaSwati are forced to pay bribes when seeking jobs in the Army.

But in the midst of the fallout, Major Bonga Ngcamphalala, another senior Army Officer very close to Mashikilisane, has been allegedly identified by Intelligence Officer 2nd Lieutenant Nxumalo as the one who was leading the attack against Brigadier General Zenzele Dlamini.

Major Ngcamphalala is the Head of the Army Military Police Unit and an investigation conducted by this Swaziland News subsequently uncovered that, after unleashing the armed soldiers to attack Brigadier General Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, on or around 19th June 2025, Major Ngcamphalala, allegedly acting on Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze’s command, ran to Mafutseni Police Station to try and convince the police to drop a criminal investigation against the Army Commander, this was after Brigadier Zenzele Dlamini reported a case after being attacked with weapons of war.

Now amid the fallout between Head of Army Intelligence Brigadier Mthiza  Dlamini and 2nd Lieutenant Mkhonzeni Nxumalo, it has emerged that, after the Military Police attacked and grabbed Brigadier Zenzele Dlamini’s cellphones on or around the 9th June 2025, the Military Police under Major Bonga Ngcamphalala handed over the cellphones to the Army Intelligence Cyber Unit, the alleged intention was to investigate if Zenzele Dlamini was leaking Army information.

Major Sandile Gwebu, the Army Spokesperson, declined to comment about the latest developments.

On another note, insiders within the law enforcement agency told this publication that, an investigation against Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze conducted after Brigadier Zenzele Dlamini opened a criminal case, has been concluded.

“The investigation has been concluded, we are aware of the Intelligence Officer who is spilling the beans and we would like to have him as a State witness,” said a police officer.

Corruption has been escalating in the Army under Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze’s administration creation tension within the Executive Command.