MBABANE: Lawyer Sicelo Mngomezulu has urged King Mswati to commission his emabutfo(warriors) to fix potholes in the public roads across the country,and further renovate hospitals as part of the kuhlehla custom.
Kuhlehla(working for free)is a traditional practice that demonstrates allegiance to the King,Chiefs and other traditional leaders,emabutfo are currently weeding King Mswati’s fields.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Wednesday,the lawyer noted that Mswati declared that everything in eSwatini belonged to him, he wondered why Government infrastructure was fixed with taxpayers money if those properties belong to the King.
“The King said everything in the country is his.So why should Government infrastructure be fixed at the tax payer's expense if he can have access to free labour to weed his fields.Emabutfo neTingatja should also be commissioned to repair hospitals,potholes, malfunctioning toilets in Government buildings,paint schools,etc.I'm sure the Nation would appreciate this.I could also contribute towards their meals and transport as they would be serving the Nation,”said the lawyer.
Reached for comments,Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson said the request by the lawyer was misplaced.
“The request is misplaced.Roads fall under the Ministry of Works and Transport.Emabutfo are just a traditional entity away from Government duty or responsibility. This Ministry is awarded a budget to construct and fix roads around the country.We still believe the Ministry responsible for roads will battle and overcome the challenge which has been brought about by unbecoming weather conditions all over the world and not just in Eswatini,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
The King’s Spokesperson noted that the current situation in the public roads was caused by an element of abnormality in the manner in which rains fall these days, adding that this resulted to ministerial budgeting constraints.
King Mswati’s emaButfo.