By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MAFUCULA: Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala has been once again accused of corruption in that, he allegedly sabotaged a multimillion sugarcane case involving Mafucula residents and members of the Royal Kraal(BantfwabeNkhosi).

Eswatini is ruled by King Mswati as an absolute Monarch, citizens are struggling to seek redress on injustice matters involving the King, members of the royal family and traditional institutions that are pillars of the Monarchy.

An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, about two-hundred(200) Mafucula residents organized themselves to establish Mafucula Mnyangombili(PTY) LTD, a sugarcane company that was subsequently funded by the European Union(EU).

It has been disclosed that, BatfwabeNkhosi from kaShewula, interfered on the project and removed some of the residents claiming, they did not qualify to be part of the sugarcane project.

This transpired after the sugarcane project started generating over R30million per-year being monies that were shared among the business-minded Mafucula residents.

Reached for comments on Friday, Albert Vilane, the former Chairperson of Mafucula Mnyangombili said, the matter involving the removal of the residents has been dragging before court for three(3) years now despite the urgency.

“It’s dragging in court, we are told that it is still discussed on the table, batsi solo isetafuleni”, said the former Chairperson, now an ordinary member of the multimillion sugarcane company.

But as the matter delays in court, it has been disclosed that, some children of the affected members of the sugarcane company are allegedly dropping out of school due to non-availability of school fees, while some are now struggling to provide for their families.

A wife to one of the removed residents who alerted this journalist about the matter said, it pained her to see her husband struggling to provide for his family as the matter delays.

“My husband was taking care of us as his family, now he can’t afford to pay schools. It’s painful to see your man who is a hard worker and a provider struggling because of certain people who abuse their powers to destroy others. My husband and other residents were receiving at least twenty-five thousand Rands(R25,000.00) each per year, it’s been three years now with no income”, said the wife to one of the affected residents.

Speaking to this Swaziland News, Simon Dlamini, the Secretary of Mafucula Royal Kraal(uMphakatsi) said he was aware of the matter but clarified that, it was BatfwabeNkhosi from ka-Shewula who removed some Mafucula residents from the project. 

“I am aware of the matter but it would be better if you can contact BatfwaBeNkhosi from Ka-Shewula, they are the ones who did this.It’s true, we are uMphakatsi but this Royal Kraal is junior and we are also concerned because the residents who were removed are now financially struggling. Our Indvuna even filed papers in court confirming that the residents deserved to be in the project but, matter is dragging in court”, said the Secretary of Mafucula Royal Kraal(uMphakatsi).

An effort to reach authorities of ka-Shewula Royal Kraal(BatfwabeNkhosi) was unsuccessful.

It has been disclosed that the case was handled by High Court Judge Justice Mavuso however, Chief Justice(CJ) Bheki Maphalala allegedly interfered and sabotaged the case amid allegations suggesting that, he was bribed to deny the residents access to justice.

The CJ is currently facing financial challenges, according to his payslip, he is surviving with a thirty thousand Rands(R30,000.00) salary advance payment, and was recently exposed by this Swaziland News after defrauding government over R1million in housing allowances.

A questionnaire was sent to Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, he was asked to clarify why he allegedly sabotaged the case, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Efforts to reach High Court Judge Justice Mavuso proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Nosipho Mazibuko, the Registrar of the Eswatini High Court first asked some few questions about the case and the Judge who was handling it. She then said, she was not allowed to speak or respond to the media on such cases.

The High Court Registrar advised this journalist to send a questionnaire so that she can forward it to the relevant court authorities.

“I am not allowed to speak to the media,please send a questionnaire and I will forward you details where to send”, said the High Court Registrar, however, she had not forwarded the details at the time of compiling this report.

But Mangaliso Magagula, a senior lawyer at Magagula and Hlophe Attorneys,whose lawfirm is handling the matter of the Mafucula residents said, they were also concerned with the delay by the court in releasing the judgement. 

“As lawyers, we don’t understand why the judgement is delayed, the residents are struggling and we have been trying in vain to get judgement,” said the lawyer representing the Mafucula residents when speaking to this Swaziland News on Friday.

Eswatini citizens are struggling to access justice, amid allegations of corruption involving some Judges, with the justice system lacking judicial independence.