MANYISENI: Chief Bhejisa Lushaba of Manyiseni Royal Kraal in the Shiselweni region is accused of demanding a cow worth R7000.00($500.00)from mourning unmarried women who want to bury their children in the area.
Eswatini is a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa, ruled by King Mswati, an absolute Monarch who exercises some of his traditional powers through Chiefs.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that unmarried women in some chiefdoms in eSwatini including Manyiseni are not allowed to bury their children whose fathers are not residents of those areas without paying a cow.
Furthermore, unmarried women who died while residing within their parental homes or secured land through their parents are also not allowed to be buried at Manyiseni.
Zandile Dlamini, one of the affected women in Manyiseni area said Chief Bhejisa allegedly demanded three (3) cows before allowing them to bury their aunt.
“The Chief claimed my aunt had returned the piece of land to him, so he demanded 3 cows for burying my aunt in the piece of land that he claims no longer belongs to us", she said.
Cebile Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Rural Women Assembly (SRWA) decried the fact that most of the land disputes victims were women.
"Women have suffered the most in these land disputes, the only way to solve these problems is to fight for a democratic Government that will serve the interests of the people", said the SRWA Secretary General.
When reached for comments, Mansizwa Nxumalo, the Indvuna for the Manyiseni Chiefdom asked this publication to stay away from their affairs.
"Stay away from these land issues since they don't involve you", said the Manyiseni Headman.
It has been disclosed further that even men who are perceived to be against the system of governance are forced to pay cows before they bury their wives.
Mavo Dlamini revealed that when he lost his wife and three (3) children in a car accident on January 2021, the Chief demanded six (6) cows on grounds that he didn\'t respect the royal kraal.
“The Chief demanded that I must give him at least one cow before the funeral and then after the funeral he demanded five (5) more cows on grounds that we don't respect the royal kraal by not working in his household (kuhlehla)", he said.
Chief Bhejisa declined to comment on the matter when reached by this publication.
Traditionalist Elliott Mkhatjwa, the Chairman of the Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA)said the Chief has committed a crime and he should be punished.
"This is unheard of, the Chief needs to be reported to the King’s Liaison Officer (Ndabazabantu). This is unlawful, the residents have a right to bury their loved ones in peace”, the SWADEPA Chairman said.
Chief Bhejisa demands cows from unmarried women who want to bury their children.