SIKHUPHE:Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson says, Mswati is not directly involved in the ongoing eviction of residents next to King Mswati International Airport.
This comes after residents of the area contacted to this publication complaining that, they were promised re-settlement compensation by Government,the residents said, they were told not to construct new houses pending the process of compensation.
“But since 2019, we haven’t received anything”, said a resident who referred comments to the Chairperson of the Residents Community Commitee dealing with the matter.
But Richard Magwabu Dlamini, the Chairman of the Community Committee said, he cannot discuss the matter without the authorization of uMphakatsi.
“It’s true that we are being evicted but, I cannot discuss the matter with you without the authorization of uMphakatsi. Kunjani itekwe ngulaba labakutjelile kumbe bona sebayitfolile lemvumo yekuyiteka. Phela mine ngiphetfwe eMphakatsini ngete ngabonakala sengiteka indzaba emaphepheni ngingakabiki,lendzaba iyalungiswa nguMphakatsi”,said the Chairman of the Community Committee.
Responding to this Swaziland News when asked to clarify the matter, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said, the King “is not directly involved but the Ministry of Public Works and Transport is better positioned” to comment.
“Our experience is that the King is not directly involved in construction logistics but engineers attached to the Ministry of Public Works and the administration of the contractor.In this case the Ministry of Works is better positioned to clarify what exactly is going on with regards to the compensation in question following the removal of homes to allow the development that took place”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
Efforts to seek a comment from Public Works Minister Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, the residents said, they were expecting the compensation but, nothing “has materialized” in this regard.
Part of the area to be developed.