By Zweli Martin Dlamini

NOKWANE:Prince Sicalo,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Defense and Security is allegedly colluding with his alleged business friend Lincon Motsa, the Director of Linac Investments trading as Ok Foods, to loot public funds meant to purchase food for the army.

An investigation conducted by this Swaziland News amid shortage of food in the army, uncovered that, through his company Linac Investments, Lincon Motsa, an alleged business friend to the Prince is a supplier of food to the Ministry of the Defense and Security.

As a result, some soldiers within the various army barracks are fuming as sometimes they are forced to eat cabbages.

When questioned regarding the allegations,Lincon Motsa, the Director of Linac Investments trading as Ok Foods said, he was not aware that, the army was facing shortage of food adding that, they normally supply as per requirements.

“Am not aware of the shortage,on our side we supply as per their requirements”, said the Ok Food Director.

But a soldier based at the Army Headquarters who is very close to the procurement and/or supply chain appealed to this publication to help raise an alarm saying, public funds were being looted by Prince Sicalo and Lincon Motsa.

“This is a very serious matter, soldiers are angry,lama-khabishi(cabbages)delivered by Motsa cannot qualify to be consumed by soldiers who are in charge of State security.But his company is paid millions, it’s shocking, action is not taken against Sicalo because this country is a family business.You will recall that PS John Kunene was fired, he was accused of starving soldiers and threatening the security of the country but now it’s Sicalo, kute lentiwa kona ngoba yintfo yakubo”, said the soldier.

It has been reported that, some soldiers were even complaining that, they were deprived food parcels as a result of the shortage of food in the army.

Responding to our questionnaire on the subject matter, Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo,the Spokesperson of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF) denied the allegations suggesting that, some soldiers were deprived food parcels but maintained that, grievances involving salaries if any, must be addressed within the structures of the army.

“Your questionnaire is highly appreciated. Firstly, the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) would like to emphatically state that there are no abnormalities in as far as food rations are concerned.These are deceptive and misleading allegations”, said the Army Spokesperson.

It is alleged that when Prince Sicalo took over as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and Security, he removed other suppliers who have been supplying the army with food without any valid reasons and engaged his alleged business friend Lincon Motsa of Ok Food as a supplier with an alleged intention to use his company as a conduit to loot more public funds.

The eSwatini Parliament is restricted from questioning the army on issues of accountability as the authorities normally hide behind “State security confidentiality” principle.

Disgruntled soldiers recently appealed to this publication to act as their voice, appealing to King Mswati to address the food challenges in the army as they were no longer allowed to even have access to food parcels for their families.

But King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane, when responding to this publication suggested that, the grievances must be addressed within the structures of the army and without involving the King.

“We believe issues of this type of food stoppages to families of soldiers can still be addressed within the Army Administrative Structures or Command”,said the King’s Spokesperson.