By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini,the then Prime Minister used to call me early in the morning around 5am, he has a special way to interact with editors and journalists outside the public domain and explain certain issues for our own understanding.

So one day I asked him as to why he fired thousands of teachers who engaged in what Government described as an unlawful or illegal “Waya-Waya strike action” in 2012.

He said; “I had to fire them because I had already made the threat that those who will continue participating in the strike action will be fired. Uma sengkhulumile bachubeka bese angisabacoshi ngeke baphindze bamhloniphe NdvunaNkhulu.I knew that they might be reinstated by the courts or other structures ngibavumele babuye ngoba tikolwa betingeke tikhone kusebenta bangekho kodvwa, loku lengitsite ngitakwenta kwakumele ngikwente so that batochubeka bamesabe Ndvunakhulu nakakhuluma”.

In fact the Prime Minister said, there was nothing wrong with the teachers being reinstated by Labadzala or Indlovukazi because the mere fact that, the then desperate leadership of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) ran to Ludzidzini and received a warm welcome, endorsed BakaNgwane and the “kwembula” ingubo traditional practice, this is Tinkhundla modus operandi.

Even the SNAT leadership didn’t know that Barnabas was playing politics by firing the thousands of teachers, its only us(journalists) who had the privilege of speaking to him outside the public domain.

Indeed, there was no way schools could function without those teachers particularly towards the end of the schools calendar year, Barnabas was just maintaining his credibility as a ‘nonsense’ Prime Minister.

Indeed, some people speak about Barnabas because they knew him through the news we used to write about him, as editors we knew his side outside the public domain and if he would open-up to those he trusted why he took certain decisions.

Now, on the issue of Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, I had a lengthy conversation with a leader of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) who said, the more we write about Alpheous BakaNgwane might award him another contract because “they are happy that he is giving the pro-democracy movement a hard time that’s why, even the independent media wants him out”.

Personally,I would like to see Alpheous Nxumalo given another contract because, due to his verbal diarrhea, it’s easy to obtain intelligence information and the political climate within the internal structures of the Tinkhundla system.

In January 2024, I was almost apprehended by agents of the Tinkhundla system in South Africa, if it wasn’t Alpheous Nxumalo whose verbal diarrhea gave me an idea of what Tinkhundla had plotted against me, maybe I wouldn’t be writing this article today, I would be behind bars of dead.

Alpheous Nxumalo is an emotional being, sometimes when I need intelligence information, I would write a provocative article knowing that he would respond through his online platforms then I would analyze the attitude of the regime and plots against me including, identifying future story angles.

Alpheous Nxumalo has the backing of certain BatfwaBeNkhosi and members of the Civil Service Commission(CSC), even if the Prime Minister could want him out, he might bounce back as long as BakaNgwane are happy with his performance.

It’s true that, BakaNgwane might renew Alpheous Nxumalo’s contract based on the notion suggesting that, he is giving those criticizing the King or Government a hard time.

But who knows maybe I also want him back but pretending as if I don’t want him or maybe, I don’t want him but pretending as if I want him, in politics you must never be predictable.

The dynamics of Tinkhundla politics should be understood in the context of how decisions are taken, Alpheous is not the Tinkhundla system but just a Government Spokesperson whether his contract is renewed or not, that does not change the fact that, this country is not democratic.

Some even didn’t understand why I was so ‘brutal’ in my writings against police officers during the unrest, it was part of security and ending a culture of impunity in the public administration.

Once you succeed in dealing with security officers and eradicate the culture of impunity, then politicians will not harass or hunt you,Tinkhundla is a system with pillars and you must know how to play around and weaken it.

Yesterday(5th January 2025), I was at the South African side of the Oshoek boarder, there was a time when police officers would scramble to apprehend me because they knew they will either be promoted or receive money from the Tinkhundla regime.

But that narrative changed to a scramble for death after the political unrest and it neutralized the threat even though it wasn’t entirely eradicated.

Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini was powerful because he had police officers and the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) on his side, he was known for arresting his political enemies and was the most feared PM.

Interacting with Barnabas in my line of duty as a journalist made me to understand that, in politics, you must use even those who people think you hate or disagree with.

Even State journalists were not aware that,Barnabas used to call me, it was only Percy Simelane and then Deputy Government Spokesperson now Director of the State owned radio Sabelo Dlamini who he used to send to my office in Mbabane.

The mistake that some Tinkhundla loyalist make is that, they think calling for democracy means we don’t speak to Tinkhundla loyalists and decision makers, personally I speak to them frequently because I want to know what is happening in Government.

On the other hand, some speak to me because they want certain stories to be published as local newspapers are censored.

Government Spokesperson is an asset to both the Tinkhundla regime and the pro-democracy movement and as mentioned, I used to write provocative articles against him whenever I need intelligence information knowing that, he will respond and give me an idea of what is happening in Government.

When conducting an investigation, sometimes you don’t need to put more effort, particularly when you dealing with an emotional Government Spokesperson who will react thinking he is blasting you yet he is disclosing State information that you need to prioritize your safety.