By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: His Royal Highness(HRH) Prince Mguciso, the Chairman of the Land Management Board(LMB) says, they will soon consult the office of the Attorney General(AG), regarding the alleged illegal sale of land by Chiefs and other traditional leaders.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Sunday evening during an exclusive interview, the Prince said, as the Land Management Board(LMB), they recently visited Mgazini, amid complaints suggesting that, Chief Sicunusa was illegally selling land in that area and indeed, they realized that, the Chief has messed-up.

The interview came after this publication contacted the Prince seeking clarification with regards to, what the Land Management Board(LMB) was doing to mitigate the escalating public complaints particularly at Mgazini, amid alleged illegal sale of land.

“We went there Nkhosi with the Regional Administrator(RA) and Ndabazabantu umonakalo sawukhandza vele mubi kakhulu. We told the Chief to stop the illegal sale of land but he continued, he is even allocating grazing land. But, we had a challenge on what to do next ngoba umuntfu losiKhulu Nkhosi ikakhulu nasokhulumile naye wambonisa, kufanele kutsi lendzaba bese ingenwa yiNkhosi kube ngiyo leshoko kutsi wentiwa njani lomuntfu longafuni kulalela,” said the Chairman of the Land Management Board(LMB).

But the Prince said, it was not only the Chief who was allegedly selling land at Mgazini, he cited other Governors(Tindvuna) who were illegally grabbing land from powerless residents and sell it.

“Lomonakalo nje semkhulu kakhulu Nkhosi, bantfu bayakhala and kute indlela lebangasitakala ngayo.Silibandla-ke le-Ngwenyama sibone kutsi lokungenani asitfole labatasibambisa(meaning: As the Board, we have identified those who can assist us). Before people who were engaged in this illegal activity were fined cattle but these days, many people don’t own cattle. So, we decided that at least, we must meet with the lawyers from the AG’s office to discuss this. We need a law urgently, to deal with people including Chiefs, who are selling or illegally allocating land reserved for State projects. The law must also assist the powerless citizens so that they can report this as a criminal activity and those involved must be arrested immediately. Sitsemba kutsi nasekulungisiwe lomtsetfo bese-ke kundlulela ePhalamende sibone kutsi iyaku-approver yini.This  will help because those who are reported will get arrested and charged,” said the Chairman of the Land Management Board.

When this publication contacted Mgazini Chief Sicunusa,he joined the ‘fast-lane’ and avoided questions.

On another note, Prince Mguciso, the Chairman of the Land Management Board(LMB) told this publication that, they will consult and seek guidance from the King as well, on what needed to be done to traditional leaders including Chiefs who illegal sell land.

MfanaweNkhosi Dlamini, a member of the Mgazini Royal Kraal(uMphakatsi) who has been vocal in defending the residents as Chief Sicunusa intensifies land grabbing from the powerless, urged the people of Mgazini to adopt possible means to protect their land as the relevant institutions try to find a solution to the crisis.

“The Chief is grabbing land from powerless residents and the victims normally complain to us as family members of uMphakatsi. We have tried to talk to him at family level but, Sicunusa is not willing to listen. We even reported the matter to various traditional Governing Councils. As the situation stands, we are urging the people of Mgazini, to ensure that they adopt possible means to protect their land as various institutions like the Land Management Board(LMB) try to resolve the crisis”, said the member of the Mgazini Royal Kraal.