MBABANE: Ntfonjeni businessman Wiseman Magagula allegedly told his landlord that locking the business premises will portray him as a failure in the eyes of the people “yet he wants to stand for the upcoming Parliamentary elections”.
According to a lease agreement seen by this Swaziland News, the Hhohho businessman was supposed to pay thirty-five thousand Rands (R35,000.00) as monthly rentals to Zhumiao Properties from August 2025 after the landlord reduced the rent to twenty-five thousand Rands (R25,000.00) for the first three (3) months commencing from April 2025 to allow him to generate some revenue and be financially stable.
The businessman whose business was locked this week was renting a butchery, a car wash and operating other businesses within the property situated at Etingadzeni in the Hhohho region but sources told this publication that, he has been paying one thousand Rands (R1000.00) per-month, slightly more or less in other months and now, is owing over R200,000.00.
The businessman’s cellphone rang unanswered when this publication tried to contact him for a comment seeking to also confirm if he will stand for upcoming Tinkhundla elections at Ntfonjeni Inkhundla.
Eswatini election laws allow emaSwati to stand for Parliamentary elections in any Inkhundla across the country if the aspiring Member of Parliament (MP), Indvuna YeNkhundla or Bucopho is a Liswati, owns a business in that Constituency and/or has been residing in the area for more than six (6) months.
It remains unclear if Magagula was genuinely operating a business or his alleged intention was to qualify to be voted and be an MP by virtue of being a businessman under Ntfonjeni Inkhundla.
“Locking the business premises will tarnish my image ahead of Tinkhundla elections,” Ntfonjeni businessman Wiseman Magagula appeals to landlord while refusing to pay over R200,000.00 outstanding rentals.