By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: King Mswati’s mother Queen Ntombi Tfwala allegedly shocked members of emaBandla(Governing Councils) when she warned the then Shiselweni Regional Administrator Themba Masuku to refrain from persecuting Vusweni Indvuna Reggie Lukhele, an alleged member of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO).

Lukhele reported the Shiselweni Regional Administrator(RA) to the Ludzidzini Council after he tried to grab land at Vusweni under Maseyisini Inkhundla and allocate it to churches, the land, it has disclosed, was reserved for development.

Themba Masuku, the former Regional Administrator(RA) and Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Sunday evening, Reggie Lukhele, the Vusweni Indvuna confirmed that, the Queen treated his matter fairly after Masuku tried to oust him.He said the former Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) was accusing him of being a member of a proscribed entity.

“It’s true but it happened around 2017 while Masuku was the Regional Administrator(RA). I reported him to BatfwabeNkhosi after he consistently forced me out of meetings for Chiefs, indzaba yaze yafika khona eNdlovukazini. Yatsi Indlovukazi iyamangala yona kutsi kunani nangiyi-PUDEMO ngoba onkhe lamabandla eNkhosi kugcwele PUDEMO mane ibhacile. Waze wabala nabo Obed watsi bebabo NNLC. Satsi nasiphuma batsi BatfwaBeNkhosi ngingamnaki Masuku ngente umsebenti wami wekuba yiNdvuna, batsi Masuku bayamati kutsi uyi-NNLC. Indvuna Themba Ginindza was then instructed to ensure that the matter is resolved, as we speak I am still working as Indvuna”, said the Vusweni Indvuna.

But royal insiders who were present during the meeting and shared the story with this publication alleged that the Queen jockily said “what if I am also a PUDEMO, sonkhe siyi-PUDEMO mosi lakhaya wentiwani loLukhele”.

Efforts to reach Ludzidzini Indvuna Themba Ginindza proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

An effort was also made to reach Maxwell Dlamini, the PUDEMO Deputy Secretary General, however, his phone rang unanswered.

Reached for comments, Sibongile Mazibuko, the President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress(NNLC) confirmed that Themba Masuku was a member of the NNLC adding that, the former DPM had not paid his subscription for a long time now.

“Yes, we can confirm that Themba Masuku was a member of the NNLC, he joined government together with former Prime Minister(PM) Obed Dlamini and Albert Shabangu. We cannot confirm if Masuku is still a member because he had not paid subscriptions for a long time now”, said the NNLC President.