MBABANE:Major General Prince Vusummango Dlamini, the Army Chief of Personnel has confirmed that, he personally communicated an order from His Majesty the King, directing Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze to promote ‘Incwala brave soldier’ Eddison Mampondweni Tsabedze.
The Army Chief of Personnel disclosed this in an exclusive interview with this Swaziland News on Monday evening, he was asked by this publication to clarify if he communicated the King’s order to the Army Commander, he responded to the affirmative.
“Yes, I did approached the Army Commander to communicate the King’s order but what you need to understand is that, in the Army there’s a hierarchy.Nawunikwe le-order lenkhulu kangaka isuka eNgwenyameni nawe ufike uyibike kuLabadzala, nami-ke ngenta njalo ngafika ngayibika kuLabadzala”, he said.
Major General Vusummango Dlamini said, King’s orders are not questioned or delayed in the Army adding that, he was expecting that, after communicating the order, Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze will implement it immediately without questioning because it came from the highest authority but, the Army Commander decided to defied it.
“If he was not sure of the authenticity of the order, he was supposed to approach the King to verify.KaNgwane wena MntfwaneNkhosi nawungayetsembi le-order, uyahamba uyoyibonga eNgwenyameni, ufike utsi Ngwenyama ngitfola nayi order sengitsi angitewubonga, not to defy it”, said the Major General.
Eddison Mampondweni Tsabedze was promoted by King Mswati after demonstrating bravery during “Incwala kubamba Inkunzi” and got injured, the King allegedly ordered that, he must be taken care of and further be promoted.
Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze has been battling with one scandal after another, he stands accused of owning 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 promoted.
Fakudze is also accused of looting Hlawati, a Savings and Cooperative Fund belonging to soldiers, he allegedly steals or receives five thousand Rands(R5,000.00) per-week as “litiya la-Commander” and the amount stolen has accumulated to about R1million.
The Army Commander is also accusing of looting over R20million and closing a Burial Fund belonging to soldiers, the Fund was assisting members of the Army with twelve thousand Rands(R12,000.00) as “imali yekulila” when visiting families to mourn the death of another soldier.
On another note, two(2) other senior Commanders in the Army who were present when the King’s order was communicated to the Army Commander sent some soldiers to call and inform this journalist that, they were willing to be interviewed as well to confirm the articles published this Swaziland News about Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze are true ans further clarify some issues.
The tension within the Executive Command of the Army escalated after the Army Commander unleashed soldiers armed with weapons of war, to attack Brigadier General Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, accusing him of communicating with this journalist and leaking information.
It has been disclosed that, more than half of the Executive Commanders at the highest authority of the Army, sympathized with Brigadier Zenzele Dlamini after the attack saying the Army Commander demonstrated disrespect to Brigadier Zenzele Dlamini by attacking and grabbing his cellphones.
“Utsi General angikuvusele ngikunike inombolo yakhe nangabe ufuna kukhuluma naye for an interview. Batsi bafuna kukhuluma babone kutsi utaba-attacker bonkhe yini Army Commander nabakhuluma nawe ngoba Inkhosi yatsi nakukhona lokubutako wena ubophendvulwa utowutsi nawubhala ubhale lokungiko. Utsi ubomshayela yena ngeke abhace utawu-confirma lakwatiko”, said a soldier who was sent by another senior soldier, a member of the Army Executive Command.
Major General Prince Vusummango Dlamini.