By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze has confirmed that, King Mswati has appointed a Royal Commission to investigate him on allegations of corruption that has divided the Executive Command and the entire Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF) thus thretening State security.

This comes after a series of investigative articles published by this Swaziland News, the Army Commander stands accused of owning over two hundred(200) cattle worth R3million being proceeds of bribery paid by members of the public seeking jobs in the army and, officers who were subsequently considered for promotions.

It is further alleged that, Fakudze defied King Mswati’s command directing him to promote Eddison Mampondweni Tsabedze who demonstrated bravery during “Incwala kubamba inkunzi” and went on to promote his children those who paid cattle as bribes, the order was formally communicated to him by the then Major General Jackie Dlamini and documented through a letter signed by the late Army Commander Brigadier General Fonono Dube.

King Mswati, through his Spokesperson Percy Simelane confirmed that, the “order is legally binding and that, the officer must be promoted”.

But during the meeting held on Wednesday morning at the Army Headquarters and, whose contents was subsequently leaked to Swaziland News journalist, the Army Commander informed Commanding Officers that, he was under investigation following the articles published by the Swaziland News, he then ordered the senior army officers who were present during the meeting to shout “Bayethe wena Waphakathi” and welcome the investigation.

“The King has appointed a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the allegations against me, asekhuteni Lwandle. Bayeeethe wena Waphakathi. Ngiyetsemba sengtawuhlengeka ngoba njalo ntsambama sengetayele kutsi kubhalwa ngami. Kodvwa-ke mine buhlungu sengabuva kakhulu ngafelwa ngumfati”, said the Army Commander during the meeting.

Efforts to reach Army Spokesperson Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo for a comment, proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

On another note, the Army Commander who is now a subject of a royal investigation was exposed by this publication for unleashing soldiers and using weapons of war to attack Brigadier General Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, accusing him of leaking information to this journalist.

But apart from that, the Army Commander allegedly looted about R20million monies belonging to soldiers and subsequently closed the Burial Fund that was assisting soldiers with “imali yekulila” amounting to twelve thousand Rands(R12,000.00) when visiting families to mourn the death of another soldier. 

Commander Fakudze has been receiving five thousand Rands(R5,000.00) per-week as “litiya la-Commander” from Hlalawati, a Saving and Cooperative Fund belonging to soldiers, the looted monies since Fakudze took over as the Army Commander, amount to about R1million.