By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini says, he met King Mswati’s Protocol Officer Khandlela Mdluli in a Sandton restaurant and they greeted each other like emaSwati while waiting to be served with food.

Dlamini said he was pleased with the level of respect he received from Mdluli adding that, a person who respects other people regardless of status in society, deserves respect.

The editor said, judging from Mdluli’s humbleness, one can even deny that he is working with a Head of State.

“He was with his wife and beautiful children and he greeted me and we chatted for sometime while waiting for food. Bengingamboni ngeva sekangivusela sekatsi “ninjani Nkhosi”. I am not in a fight with anyone but writing news as a journalist lofuna fight nami utayitfola but I am polite to those who are polite to me and those who understand that I am doing my job-writing news. Inkhosi ngitawubhala ngayo ngoba vele a Head of State must be held accountable,” said the editor.

The editor then urged Foreign Minister Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu to meet him personally if she wants to “grab him not to speak” in private meetings with a handful of Senators and Members of Parliament(MPs) at Royal Villas.

“In fact we will eventually meet with the Foreign Minister because I will attend some of the SADC meetings with other South African editors. She will meet me personally ngifuna kubona kutsi loku lakushito at Royal Villas utakusho yini nakangibona,” said the editor.

Dlamini was reacting to the Foreign Minister’s statements suggesting that, he must he grabbed and extradited for criticizing the King. 

The editor said even though he “understands that he is not safe” but he will be extra careful of the threats, he will continue to live his life in a democratic country because by nature, he is not a coward. He urged the Foreign Minister to respect that, the eSwatini Government lost a Mpumalanga Court case and a request to have him arrested and extradited was rejected by the South African Government.