By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Percy Simelane,the King’s Spokesperson says the matter where King Mswati stands accused of grabbing a multi-million sugarcane project from Hlane farmers,is subjudice.

As a result, the King’s Spokesperson asked not to comment beyond the letter of the learned Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Khumalo.

Subjudice is a legal term that refers to a matter that is under judicial consideration and therefore, prohibited and/or restricted from public discussion elsewhere.

This Swaziland News reported on Wednesday evening that the King allegedly sent the Attorney General(AG) to communicate a royal command to Judge J Mavuso suggesting that, the matter must be dropped and referred to traditional structures.

“We beg not commit on it beyond  what the AG has said in the letter to the High Court lest we contaminate it because of our limited legal expertise and be charged for contempt.Apparently it is still subjudice,” said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News on Thursday morning.

On another note, Boy Nkentjane,the Chairperson of the Hlane Takhamuti Farmers Investments, said the European Union(EU) that funded their sugarcane project,advised them to register orphans and widows as members but, the King grabbed everything.

As a result, Nkentjane said he took the court order to the EU offices in Mbabane on Wednesday.

“As I am speaking to you, I am from the EU offices to submit the court order that removed the case for the court roll. This matter was about to be finalized within the courts but, the AG came with a command and told the Judge to drop it.EU advised us to register orphans and widows in the project but Gadla Tfwala and the King grabbed everything,” said the Chairperson of Hlane Takhamuti Farmers Association.

Speaking to this publication on Thursday, human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said what befell the Hlane residents was very unfortunate but, he clarified that it was becoming a norm for Judges to drop some cases involving Swazi Law and Custom.

”The most unfortunate part is that there’s no guarantee of justice within the traditional structures if you are not connected to the most powerful or authorities,” said the human rights lawyer.