MBABANE:Sipho Fakudze, the graphic designer who designs “emahiya” for King Mswati, eMakhosikati, Emazinyane and other members of the royal family is financially struggling despite being the brain behind the traditional attires even during National events, including King’s Birthday Celebrations.
An investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, Fakudze has been financially struggling as “sometimes he would found himself receiving ‘peanuts’ or a mere nineteen thousand Rands(R19,000.00) for a job that could have paid him over R5million”.
In the process, the name of King Mswati was allegedly abused with Fakudze told that “wenta umsebenti weMakhosi”.
Reached for comments on Monday evening, the King’s graphic designer confirmed that, he “normally receives payment” that does not meet the standard of the work he does.
“I would make an example, even if I can prepare a quotation of R90,000.00 for a certain job, at Home Affairs they would tell me that, Government payments above R20,000.00 must go through the tendering process and therefore,I must just work and deliver the work as it’s an urgent design are for the King,” he said.
The graphic designer said, he met King Mswati while studying in the United Kingdom(UK) in 1990 and, the King advised him to come back home with the skill and develop eSwatini.
“As an orphan,I was assisted by a white man who took me to school and through the assistance of that white man,I studied graphic designing in the UK. In 1991, I met King Mswati who was in the United Kingdom for a visit and he said I must come back home with the skill. But I can confirm that I am not happy with my standard of living,” he said.
Fakudze designed King’s Birthday logos that include 55-55, 50-50, emahiya for the King, eMakhosikati, Emazinyane and other members of the royal family, he is also among those working on the upcoming 57th King’s Birthday, working on designs ahead of the event.
It is alleged that, powerful individuals normally approach Fakudze, pay him ‘peanuts’ and then, use his work to claim millions from Government but this, is a subject of an investigation by this publication.
King’s designer Sipho Fakudze.