MBABANE:King Mswati allegedly commanded the promotion of Mampondweni Eddison Tsabedze who became a hero during Incwala’s “kubamba inkunzi” at Ludzidzini Palace but, the order was kept a top secret.
It has been disclosed that, former Army Commander Jeffery Shabalala was forced to resign while preparing to implement the King’s order, the the letter was then handed over to the current Commander by the then Major General Jackie Dlamini.
But the document has been found in the Office of Mashikilisane Fakudze and, the Army Commander has not implemented despite being reminded a few days after taking over in 2021 that, it was an order from the King.
“Pursuant to a Command commissioned by His Majesty Ingwenyama in 2003 through Captain Jackie Dlamini, late Indvuna Lomashikizela Ndwandwe and late Sgt Major Ntasane Maseko to rank the above mentioned to a position of commissioned officer, you are hereby(sic) this letter requested to facilitate such promotion”, reads the letter in part, signed by former Army Commander Fonono Dube.
The Army Commander declined to comment about the letter directing him to promote the soldier and, the matter has been “consistently emerging and demonstrating how King Mswati’s orders are defied with impunity”.
Efforts to reach King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze is alleged to have accepted cattle as bribes from some soldiers who were subsequently promoted, he now owns cattle worth R3million.
But apart from that, the Army Commander allegedly promoted his own children and, his friends’ children who are employed in the army.
ROYAL ORDER SABOTAGED:Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze defies King Mswati by refusing to promote soldier Mampondweni Eddison Tsabedze, promotes his own children.