By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:King Mswati is allegedly paid over R1million by corporate companies just to grace an event officially opening a businesses in the country.

An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, the ongoing official opening of businesses by King Mswati was actually facilitated by Mancoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade and, comes at a huge cost for some businesses.

In financial reports for some corporate companies, the payment made to the King is referenced as an “esteemed payment”.

 Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.

It has been disclosed that, each corporate company needs over R3million to invite the King for the official opening and this covers, catering, decorations and the King’s over R1million ‘pocket money’.

As a result and amid financial challenges in the country, some companies officially opened by Mswati in the past few months, are now struggling to pay salaries.

“But apart from the payment for the King, the costs of hosting the event are too high and those close to the King normally abuse this for personal gain. Kulesinye sikhatsi utsengiswa netintfo kutsiwe loku kutsandvwa yiNkhosi noma Indlovukazi. Ngiyabekisa nje kube ungatsengiswa ema-juice kutsiwe ayonatfwa yiNdlovukazi ubone kutsi lawa ayofakwa eSitolo salona loseceleni kweNkhosi sewutitsengela yena,”said a source within the corporate sector.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Monday morning, King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane denied knowledge of any payment adding that, it’s the responsibility of the King to officially open businesses in his capacity as  the Head of State.

The King’s Spokesperson described Mswati as a “visionary King who is officially opening the businesses to promote the social-economic” evolution of eSwatini not for personal gain.

“We are not aware of any payments  made to the King for officially opening businesses around the country. Our experience is that opening businesses is not a duty for him but a responsibility because it is at the axis of the socio-economic evolution of Eswatini and features prominently in his his dream as a visioned leader and Head of State. Until there is evidence to this, we will continue to believe it’s another attempt to discredit him politically,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

But it is further alleged that, the high costs of inviting the King to officially open businesses has made it practically impossible for eSwatini indigenous companies under the Small and Medium Enterprise(SME) sector to invite King Mswati.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday, Johannes Manikela, the Business Federation of Eswatini(BFE) Head of Retail said “it’s shocking” but referred further comments to President Thuli Dlamini-Dladla. 

“It’s shocking but you can contact President Thuli Dlamini-Dladla for further comments,” he said.

Efforts to reach Thuli Dlamini-Dladla proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

King Mswati is currently officially opening businesses in the country, he recently visited Lubombo to tour businesses in the poverty stricken region.