LOBAMBA: King Mswati allegedly accused lawyer Sicelo Mngometulu of undermining his authority by pledging to donate a cow to those who wouldn’t attend the uMhlanga Reed Dance Ceremony, royal insiders have disclosed.
The lawyer representing incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament (MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube was banned from entering eSwatini after he addressed Hosea residents and pledged to donate a cow to those who wouldn’t attend uMhlanga.
“The King did not issue an order to ban the lawyer from entering eSwatini; instead, he expressed himself during one of the royal meetings by saying the lawyer was undermining his authority, watsi kusho kutsi uyamedzelela.Government then considered ways to deal with what seemed to be troubling the King hence Mngomezulu was banned," said the royal insider.
Efforts to seek a comment from lawyer Sicelo Mngomezulu on the latest developments proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
However, this publication\'s independent investigation revealed that Mngomezulu was allegedly banned by King Mswati, who communicated the decision through his sister, Princess Lindiwe, the Minister of Home Affairs.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3(d) of the Immigration Act, 1982, the Minister of Home Affairs issues the following notice: This notice may be cited as the Declaration of a Prohibited Immigrant Notice, 2022.This notice shall come into force on the date of publication in the Gazette of the Declaration of a Prohibited Immigrant. Mr. Celimpilo Hlabeyakhe Sicelo Mngomezulu, a National of the Republic of South Africa, born on 11th July 1979 and bearer of the Republic of South Africa Passport No M00227027, is declared an undesirable and prohibited immigrant of the Kingdom of Eswatini ", reads the Legal Notice released by the King through his Home Affairs Minister
Lawyer Sicelo Mngomezulu.