MBABANE: King Mswati’s jet allegedly flew to Germany for service last week with Public Works and Transport Minister Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe included among the delegation as a ‘security officer’ to ensure its safety.
An independent investigation by this Swaziland News uncovered documents substantiating that Celumusa Nhlonipho Ndwandwe known as Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe with diplomatic passport number 20001184 left the country via King Mswati’s International Airport on 29th May 2021 when taking his trip to Germany. The documents further reveal that the Minister was in the company of Nkululeko Dununu Gumedze and Sicelo Celucolo Shabalala, it could not be ascertained whether the two were also part of the security team to ensure the safety of the King\'s jet.
A questionnaire was sent to the Public Works Minister who is currently in Germany and Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini, however, both of the them had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments, Sibongile Mazibuko, the President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress(NNLC) said by servicing the jet in the midst of growing calls for democracy, the King might be preparing to transport public resources before leaving the country with his family. Mazibuko suggested that Swazis must find a way of seizing the jet and block it from leaving country adding that the King must surrender too many resources before deciding to leave.
“Bekumele kutfolakale indlela yekutsi ikhungwe lendiza ngoba uyi-servicer nje utawusuke abaleke nema-resources elive sisale sinje (meaning: We must find a way to seize the jet because the King might disappear with public resources). You will recall that he started by taking his family with the private jet to enjoy lunch on air and now it is going for service, clearly, the King is up to something” ,said the NNLC President.
An insider in the corridors of power told this Swaziland News that the Public Works Minister was assigned to be part of the delegation as a ‘security officer’ to ensure its safety.
“He was included in the delegation to make sure the jet was safe from ematsamelangoti(people who might plot to harm the King)”, said the insider.
Reached for comments, Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said it was surprising that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with the collapsed health system, the priorities of the Monarch were pleasure and leisure.
“It is surprising that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with the collapsed health system, the priorities of the Monarch is pleasure and leisure. This should be a wake-up call to Swazis that they are on their own, they don’t have a Government until such time when they decide to stop this thing”, said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa and ruled by King Mswati as an absolute Mornach with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line,the poverty situation has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted to the loss of jobs.
King Mswati\'s private jet