MBABANE:King Mswati has confirmed his order directing Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze to promote Incwala brave soldier Eddison Mampondweni Tsabedze.
Responding to this Swaziland News through his Spokesperson Percy Simelane, the King maintained that, royal orders have been legally binding even before the enactment of the Constitution and wondered why the order directing the Army Commander to promote Tsabedze was not implemented.
“Even before the constitution of 2005 which embraces royal commands, such orders were legal and binding”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
It has been disclosed that, Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze defied the King’s order after being informed by the then Major General Jackie Dlamini who handed over a letter signed by the late Brigadier General Fonono Dube, communicating and confirming the royal order.
Eddison Mampondweni Tsabedze allegedly impressed the King during “Incwala kubamba inkunzi” and got injured, the King was allegedly got touched upon seeing his injured soldier and immediately ordered that Tsabedze must be taken care-of and promoted for his bravery.
But the King’s order suggests that, Tsabedze is now entitled to over two hundred and fifty thousand Rands(R250,000.00) back-pay being monies he should have earned since 2003 and, from the date of the King’s order directing the Army Commander to promote him.
Documents sourced from the Commander’s Office suggest that, Jeffery Shabalala, the then Army Commander was forced to resign while preparing to implement the King’s order.
Major General Jackie Dlamini subsequently held a meeting with the current Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze and reminded him about the pending order from the King however, Fakudze defied the King’s order and went on to promote his own children and other officers who paid him cattle as bribes.
King Mswati(pic:Gov).