By Zweli Martin Dlamini

LOBAMBA: Mkhandlowenkhosi, the son of Queen Siphelele Mashwama was systematically ‘unveiled’ by King Mswati as an alleged Crown Prince on Wednesday and this, was during the King’s Birthday and Independence Day Double Celebration.

A Crown Prince is a prince who will be the next King when the present King dies, Mswati’s Mother health remains unstable and in terms of Swazi Law and Custom, one of the King’s wives will be the successor and subsequently, her son will automatically become the King.

But King’s Spokesperson Simelane, when asked by this Swaziland News to clarify why the young Prince marched with the army during such an important event in the history of the country said,the event was not meant to parade MkhandloweNkhosi as next King.

“In this country, an heir to the Throne is discussed and chosen only by Emagunqa,an authorized team of senior princes.He is announced publicly only when his predecessor has passed away.We are not aware of any other method or formulae associated with the identification of the next king.Our experience is that when the army marches small boys in military gear also march along, from time to time.This does not happen only in Eswatini but in a number of countries around  the world. We have no reasons to think the young prince in question was being paraded as an heir to the Throne yesterday. It doesn’t happen like that,” said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to a questionnaire from this publication.

Before being formally announced as the Crown Prince, Mswati who was previously known as Prince Makhosetive, participated in a parade with the army at a very young age, exactly like Prince MkhandloweNkhosi.

The then Prince Makhosetive became the qualifying Crown Prince, after other previously identified Princes that include Prince Lonkhonkhela, Prince Maguga and Prince Matatazela among others, developed what is known as kutfomba before King Sobhuza died. 

Notably, King Mswati ‘took’ Queen Siphelele LaMashwama, the mother to the alleged Crown Prince to accompany him to the Coronation of King MisuZulu, a very important and once in a lifetime royal event.

Royal insiders very close to the King alleged that, Inkhosikati LaMashwama “is receiving special utmost respect” and her son is provided with maximum security.

Furthermore, Prince MkhandloweNkhosi is currently the only son and child to Queen LaMashwama and this, in terms of Eswatini Law and Custom, is the basic ‘qualification’ for a Prince to become the next King.

“LaMashwama is one of the most brilliant wives of the King and is treated special. I cannot say this child is the Crown Prince because that is a secret of Labadzala(authorities) but he is treated like one. He is the only child of his mother which is one of basic ‘qualifications’ for one to become a King”, said the royal insider.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said, as a movement, they noted what happened at the Somhlolo Stadium including the participation of the young Prince in the parade.

“We have noted what happened there and as a organization, we were amused at the fact that, the Deputy Prime Minister who made a lot of noise when young people attended our Youth League rally, was silent when a young person attended an event, playing the role that, the young child was playing there. Anyway, coming to the issue you have asked specifically, what we can say is that, the King should be focusing on the urgent need for an all inclusive dialogue, that will transition the country into a democratic dispensation. This is where our focus is and that’s where their focus should be as well,not to focus on identifying another young person who will inherit absolute Monarchy dispensation because that would never happen. We will not have any absolute Monarchy beyond what we are having now, as a people, we have had a long nightmare that we are not willing to re-live a day longer. So there’s no way that they would be any young person who will be an absolute Monarch beyond this one, if they have identified anyone, they are just dreaming, it would never happen”, said the PUDEMO President.

But a senior Prince told this publication that, it would be against eSwatini culture for the current King to identify his successor while still alive.

“What normally happens is that when the King dies, a Council of senior royal family members and Chiefs come together to discuss and identify the next King among the deserving children. That Prince must be the only child to his mother, kodvwa-ke tintfo tiyashitja. Kulukhuni nalokucabanga kutsi kungaba yi-Crown Prince lena ngoba kwayona leNkhosi lekhona iseyincane Hlubie ina 55years isatotsatsa bafati itale bantfwana”, said the senior Prince who is a son to King Sobhuza.

Reached for comments, Sibongile Mazibuko, the President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress(NNLC) said, the survival of the institution of the Monarchy would be determined on how the current King handles the ongoing political crisis.

“The Monarchy must first win us as the people and this, will determine its survival in the new democratic dispensation. In short, let’s engage in a dialogue”, said the NNLC President.