By Zweli Martin Dlamini

After King Mswati dispersed emaButfo last weekend, some young boys(Ingatja) were seen in their traditional attire, buying exercise books and school uniforms at the nearby Gables Shopping Complex, these positive and life changing decisions for the children.

Whether King Mswati scored political points by increasing the Incwala allowance known as ‘Imbasha’ at least, R33million public funds benefited the people, young and old even though there are emerging reports or allegations suggesting that, some citizens registered to benefit from these allowances without attending the event.

In siSwati, there’s an adage known as “kusika emantjontjo” but it’s a serious offense “kusika emantjontjo esibindzini”, I hope those who registered without attending Incwala were merely taking chances to benefit.

But attending Incwala does not mean one subscribe to the political ideology of the Tinkhundla oppressive regime, this is the political narrative that we must consistently clarify.

I used to attend Incwala and I stopped after witnessing some old men performing rituals around 12 midnight inside Ludzidzini Palace, the men were allegedly performing “kubetsela” and as Ingatja, we were playing inside the Palace at night.

I felt one day, these ritual men will grab us where were were sleeping and sacrifice us, Incwala is more than “kukha Lusekwane” and weeding the King’s fields, some of the things that happen where there clash with my religious beliefs.

Even though I am a critic of the Incwala rituals,I strongly support the King’s idea to use public funds and give emaButfo ‘Imbasha’ as allowances, anything that benefits and improve the lives of the people, have my support.

But the King must do the same and allocate monies to purchase drugs in public hospitals,these hospitals are also used by his emaButfo including Ingatja.

It’s political hypocrisy to give Ingatja allowances just for them to praise and appreciate you knowing very well that, these citizens will die amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

Emabutfo must know that, the R33million was sourced from public funds, it’s their tax as the King is not employed and his lifestyle is fully funded with public funds or our taxes.

Some Ingatja managed to buy school uniform and exercise books after receiving the Incwala allowances, at least public funds benefited the people.

But the politization of cultural songs must be discouraged because such conduct divides emaSwati, we have pro-democracy citizens who love their culture and some even got married traditionally.

It is therefore unjust, to use culture to insult other emaSwati or use cultural events as a political barometer or referendum.

Personally, I am of the view that in as much as we are calling for democracy, we must preserve our culture as our true identity.

But I’m totally against the political manipulation and the use of culture to advance a political agenda or narrative, culture must unite the people.

I was once asked by an international journalist who first appreciated my ‘imvunulo’, she said you wearing clothes like King Mswati and I said “we are differing in political ideology with Mswati but this is our traditional attire that unites and, makes us look the same as emaSwati in the eyes of the world”.

The journalist said “that’s good” your culture is beautiful.