MANYISENI: Chief Bhejisa Lushaba allegedly ordered World Vision Eswatini terminate a contract for Deli Mambane over a land dispute.
This comes after residents of Manyiseni petitioned the Chief demanding that he returned all pieces of land that he forcefully grabbed from the residents for his own selfish interests. The Chief allegedly retaliated by writing a letter to World Vision ordering them to terminate Deli Mambane's contract. Mambane was part of the residents that had petitioned the Chief .
Speaking to this Swaziland News, Deli Mambane,who worked as a Home Visitor at World Vision Eswatini said Chief Bhejisa had been involved in a land dispute with her father and he ordered the humanitarian organization to terminate her contract just to spite her.
“Last week Wednesday, My Supervisor came to my home armed with the Chief\'s letter and the letter of dismissal. The Chief claimed I was not a resident of that area\", she said.
Efforts to reach Chief Bhejisa proved unsuccessful as his phone rang unanswered.
Lungile Zwane, the Communications and Campaigns Manager at World Vision Eswatini confirmed the matter.
“World Vision Eswatini volunteers live in the community in which they work, and we rely on them and local leadership, to tell us if they move away. Our records show that this is what happened in this case”, said the Communications Manager.
Norman Xaba,the Chairperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) in the Shiselweni region said they would fight until justice was served.
"Our message to all Chiefs who treat our people like objects or animals, as PUDEMO in the region we say, iyolala ibonene’. We will fight for the poor", he said.
Chief Bhejisa.