MBABANE: Prince Majaha sent a message to this journalist on Wednesday morning, demanding to know if his comment will still be relevant after the publication of the R3.8million alleged tax evasion scandal involving Ludzidzini Council member Ncumbi Maziya.
Worth-noting, the Prince was communicating with this journalist on Tuesday evening where he was asked to comment and clarify if, Maziya did approached him for assistance in mitigating before King Mswati (Kutigicita eNkhosini) amid a high level tax evasion investigation by the Eswatini Revenue Authority(ERA).
Prince Majaha first asked this journalist to narrate the matter so he can understand its context, to enable him to comment on an informed position but, he later disappeared only to emerge on Wednesday morning.
“But you have already published”, said the Prince.
Ludzidzini Council member Ncumbi Maziya who stands accused of smuggling goods and/or procuring services amounting to over R3.8million without paying tax, joined the fast-lane and avoided questions when asked to clarify the matter, in the process, Maziya is alleged to have abused King Mswati’s name.
But one of Mswati’s senior bodyguards told this publication that, Maziya tried to approach Prince Majaha to help him mitigate before the King(Kutigicita eNkhosini) regarding the matter, however, the Prince is said to have refused citing the seriousness of the matter.
“It’s a serious matter that angered the King, these days iNkhosi itsi lebantfu labaganga ngeligama layo bayicabanisa naleSive. Waganga ngentfo letsintsa imali-ke maye Babe!!! konakele, lona nje use usenkingeni besazama kufihla nalama TLB, SRA ufuna kumudla.It’s a serious matter, Ncumbi even tried to approach Majaha to assist him mitigate before the King but Majaha refused, saying he doesn’t want to involve himself considering the seriousness of the matter”, said the royal insider.
Responding to questions from this publication on Tuesday evening, Chief Mdlaka Gamedze, the Chairman of the Ludzidzini Council said, it’s hard to disclose what might happen to Maziya as the matter, in question, was still a subject of an investigation.
“It’s an investigation, so we don’t know what will happen to him thereafter”, said the Chairman of the Ludzidzini Council when speaking to the publication.
Responding to a questionnaire from this publication, Vusi Dlamini, the Eswatini Revenue Authority(ERS) Director of Communications said, the revenue institution was restricted by the law to discuss this matter with the media except in a court of law.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News earlier on Tuesday, King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane described tax evasion as a criminal offense adding that, using the King’s name to obtain favors amounts to extortion.
“Tax evasion is of criminal nature and using the King’s name in vain to get favours appears to be extortion to us. Unfortunately both are normally done behind closed doors away from the public eye and it is difficult to know what exactly happened in the alleged maneuvers in question.We beg not to pretend we know what exactly happened and why lest we contaminate the alleged investigation,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
Prince Majaha.