MBANGWENI: Lungelo Khumalo, a ‘poor’ young man approached Mswati in front of his bodyguards and asked for a job in the army, the King approved his request.
This was during the Umhlanga Reed Dance Ceremony held at Mbangweni Royal Residence on Saturday.
Reached for comments, Lungelo Khumalo declined to comment saying commenting on the matter might wash-away his chances of joining the army.
“Ngicela kungakhulumi, ngiyesaba mani kutsi kutobese kuyangonakalela kani simo sibi ngiyahlupheka(meaning: I can’t comment, I am afraid, commenting on the the matter might result to me losing the opportunity yet I am poor and struggling in life,” he said.
Royal guards told this Swaziland News that the boy who came closer to the King was a member of the Boys Scouts.
“He approached the King after kudlalisela Imbali, the King was going to the bathroom(kuyocitsa emanti) and we later realized that the boy had been waiting for him that side. As the King approached, the boy knelt-down and shouted “ngicela umsebenti Ngwenyama umane ungifake emasotjeni, ngiyahlupheka anginabatali(meaning: Please give me a job in the army Your Majesty, I am poor). The King ordered Prince Hlangabeza to work on the matter and ensure that the boy is hired as a soldier,” said one of the King’s bodyguards.
A questionnaire was sent to King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, it has been disclosed that after the King issued an order that the boy must be employed, a royal guard told this publication that their boss Brigadier Lasco questioned them as to why they allowed the boy to come closer to the King.
“We were very surprised when Lasco questioned us why we allowed the boy to ask for a job from the King, how can we block a Swazi to come closer to his King sekatentele yakhe indlela yekutifikela eNkhosini yakhe?. Bo-Lasco bahlala balwa kangaka nje bafuna kufaka bangani babo lemasotjeni. We are happy for the boy, the King hired him and he will start training immediately,” said the royal guard.
King Mswati during uMhlanga ceremony.