By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Prince Sicalo,the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and State Security was allegedly plotting to seize power, take over the Throne and become the next King, while his father King Mswati was hospitalized with COVID-19 with signs suggesting that,he might not recover.

An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that,the Prince was allegedly providing assistance to Christian Malanga,the leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) rebel group known as the United Congolese Party(UCP) in his attempt to topple President Felix Tshisekedi on condition that,the mercenary will also assist him take over the Throne as the next King should Mswati dies.

On or around 10th April 2020, this Swaziland News exclusively reported that King Mswati,an absolute Monarch,was hospitalized with COVID-19 and the report was subsequently refuted by the eSwatini Government which then sent police officers to hunt this journalist for reporting about the King’s then deteriorating health condition.

The report by this publication with regards to the King’s health attracted the attention of the international media and soon thereafter, Government through the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thulie Dladla, told the Voice of America(VOA) that,the King was not sick but “very much fine and directing Cabinet while in the Palace”.

But the King subsequently confirmed that the report by this publication was accurate as he stated in his Speech from the Throne that, he almost died of COVID-19 while thanking Taiwan doctors.

It has been disclosed that,while the King was hospitalized with COVID-19,Christian Malanga,the Congolese mercenary who was killed in an attempted coup last month,was already plotting with Prince Sicalo to seize power by using Congolese mercenaries.

An investigation by this publication further uncovered that,the attempt to seize power by the Prince was so secretive such that, some of the Congolese mercenaries were residing at Malindza Refugee Camp pretending to be refugees yet they were provided with State documents including passports.

Documents sourced from the eSwatini immigration department uncovered that, different vehicles including eSwatini privately registered cars were used by Christian Malanga to move in and out of eSwatini.

Malanga was also frequenting Mozambique and Professor Adriano Nuvunga, the Director of the Mozambique Centre for Democracy and Human Rights(CDD) told this publication during the Visionary Perspectives Program hosted by eSwatini human rights defender Velaphi Mamba that, Malanga was also supporting rebels in the northern Mozambique.

Part of the information sourced from the Ministry of Home Affairs computer systems cannot be revealed for now as doing so, might jeopardize the ongoing investigation by this publication into the links between Prince Sicalo and the killed powerful leader of the Congolese rebel group.

But electronic evidence in our possession including videos further suggest that, Christian Malanga who was residing at Tubungu eState in eSwatini,was interacting with high profile people including Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thuli Dladla, the then Foreign Minister who denied that, the King was sick when the plot to seize power allegedly,by Prince Sicalo,was plotted.

A separate investigation further uncovered that,on or around 29th June 2021 and at the height of the political unrest, Christian Malanga and the other DRC mercenaries linked to Prince Sicalo were already in the country assisting the police and soldiers in the random shooting and killing of protesting civilians who were demanding democracy.

The Prince has been evasive when asked to respond to allegations linking him to the Congolese rebel leader who was recently killed by DRC soldiers while attempting to overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi.

As a result, a questionnaire was sent to the Defense Principal Secretary and first born son to King Mswati but, he failed to respond.

“Good day Prince Sicalo(Principal Secretary-Ministry of Defense).There are allegations suggesting that, you were plotting with Congolese mercenary Christian Malanga to seize power and take over the Throne while the King was sick and hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2020. Can you clarify the nature of your relationship with the killed rebel leader and why he was always seen with you in the countryFurthermore,did you abuse your powers to secure passports for some of the Congolese mercenaries who were residing at the Malindza Refugee Camp disguised as refugees?”, reads the questionnaire in part, sent to the Prince by this publication.

Worth-noting,Prince Sikhanyiso Dlamini,the then Minister of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) told the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) that,mercenaries had invaded eSwatini killing civilians during the recent political unrest.

It remains unclear if the King’s influncial first-born daughter was referring to the DRC mercenaries allegedly hired by her brother or another group of mercenaries led by alleged former South African apartheid soldier Arno Pienaar.

Government,through its Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, vigorously denied that,Prince Sicalo was involved in the DRC attempted coup,saying the two(2) countries enjoy warm diplomatic relations.

But there’s overwhelming evidence linking the Prince to the killed DRC rebel leader and before being killed by the DRC soldiers in the attempted coup, Christian Malanga,a businessman with interests in mining, was in eSwatini some months ago, attending an event as per an alleged invitation by the Defense Principal Secretary(PS).

Malanga then posted a video on LinkedIn expressing gratitude to the Prince for the invitation and the success of the event.

“What a memorable event with my Military Advisor and confidant HRH Prince Sicalo. His SADC leadership as Principle Secretary of the Eswatini Defence Force has been a prominent advocacy and promoter of security reform for the New Zaire”, the deceased DRC businessman posted on LinkedIn.

Speaking to this Swaziland News earlier, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) confirmed that, they were also aware that, some of the DRC mercenaries were residing at the Malindza Refugee Camp pretending to be refugees adding that, they will soon write to the Southern African Development Community(SADC) demanding an investigation with regards to the eSwatini’s role in the DRC attempted coup.

On another note,News24 reported that, Christian Malanga(41),of the United States(US) based United Congolese Party(UCP),was killed as his band of twenty(20) armed men reportedly tried to force entry into the Palais de la Nation, the complex that is home to President Felix Tshisekedi's government.

“Malanga's right-hand man was Benjamin Zalman-Polun from Maryland (US) identified in earlier reports as an American cannabis entrepreneur.Both Malanga and Zalman-Polun were partners in mining ventures and the fast-growing electronic cigarette liquids sector”, News24 reported on Sunday.

Prince Sicalo, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and State Security was trained by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and due to his position in the army, he seems to be well-positioned to take over the Throne should the King dies.