By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Mbongeni Ndlela, the former Times of Eswatini now Eswatini Positive News editor allegedly defrauded a Prince ten thousand Rands(R10,000.00) using Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.

The editor of this Swaziland News received the information on Saturday evening after the royal family member opened-up to him, the Prince said Ndlela contacted him last year while he was with King Mswati at Nokwane Special Economic Zone Park for the allocation of land for SIMLEX electronic passport project saying; “ngitfunywa nguMhleli Zwemart utsi uphetse lifayela lakho lelibi kabi, ufuna R10,000.00 lana, lingapheli li-hour ingakangeni lemali. Uyamati-ke uMhleli waze wacondzana nawe”.

Worth-noting, Ndlela is out on bail, while working for the Times Sunday, he was arrested by the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) for allegedly demanding twelve thousand Rands(R12,000.00) bribe from the then Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Construction Industry Council(CIC) Nhlanhla Dlamini who recorded him and opened a criminal case.

But the case is pending before court as Ndlela subsequently became a State propagandist, “saying he will now write positive news about the eSwatini Government” in an attempt to evade justice.

The Prince contacted editor Zweli Martin Dlamini saying, he was shocked when approached by Ndlela who demanded the money.

“Ngamangala kakhulu kutsi kodvwa uMlangeni sibandzawonye, nangabe kumbe besadzinga imali bengingavele ngimuphe sekangaze angente njena. Angetfuse ngekutsi unemafayela ami, ngoba phela nawuyindvodza kuyenteka utsi uhleti ucamalate, awusati kutsi fayela ndzini litsini. I was shocked and it’s been a year since he took the money and I was still digesting how to tell you. Sengibona umbhalile ku-personal Facebook Fans Club page yakho kutsi uyaganga, sengitsi nangu lomfana lowatsatsa imali yami using ligama leMlangeni,” said the Prince.

On another note, editor Zweli Martin Dlamini said “he is waiting for Mbongeni Ndlela to pick-up his phone so that he can direct him to pay back the money he extorted from the royal family member.

“I am waiting for him to pick-up the phone so that I can give him an hour as well to pay back the money. Let me urge all public figures who were defrauded by these corrupt State journalists in my name to contact me,”said the editor.