By Wendy Magagula

SITHOBELWENI: Police are plotting to arrest Mcolisi Thabo Dlamini, a resident of Sithobelweni under the Mamba Kingdom who questioned the unlawful grabbing of Tibiyo TakaNgwane by King Mswati.

Tibiyo TakaNgwane was established by Swazis as an investment fund, however, like the Public Service Pension Fund(PSPF) and the  Eswatini National Provident Fund(ENPF) it was subsequently grabbed by King Mswati for the benefit of the royal family. During the delivery of a petition on 19th June 2021 at Sithobelweni Inkhundla, Dlamini, who was among the Speakers came hard on King Mswati for his involvement in business and the grabbing of Tibiyo.

\"As Swazis, we are tired of this Dlamini man who is grabbing all businesses in the country, where is Cargo Carriers? where is DuVan? now he has taken over Southern Star and grabbing everything in the sugar industry. Mswati has business interests at  Brewery, Maloma and MTN then how will the Swazis survive if everything is grabbed by the King? We are sending you MP, go to Parliament and discuss this issue, we want the King to stay away from businesses and frustrating Swazis who are earning a living\" , he said.

Dlamini further mentioned that they were tired of being told that the King was holding Tibiyo and Tisuka in trust for the Swazi Nation, he wondered if Swazis were not old enough to hold those shares for themselves.

\"Everywhere Tibiyo is holding shares, who is benefiting from this money? It\'s the King and his children\", he said.

Reached  for comments by Swaziland News on Sunday on the looming arrest, Dlamini confirmed that he was aware of the plot to arrest him but said he was standing by what he said at Sithobelweni and would not change his statement.

\"I am aware of the plot to arrest me but I am standing by my statement\", he said.

Speaking to this publication, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza said he also aware that police were plotting to arrest some residents of Sithobelweni who spoke during the delivery of the petition.

\"Assaulting, killing and arresting citizens with different political views will never be a solution, Government must engage the Swazis in a dialogue not to use force. Swazis are not violent people but government and the police will force the people to be more violent by trying to use force against them\" said the MP

But contrary to the ongoing shooting and arrests of citizens for exercising their Constitutional rights to freedom of expression, Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini recently told Ligwagwalala FM that the country had a Constitution that guaranteed human rights adding that citizens were free to express themselves.

However, King Mswati through Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku issued a decree on Thursday banning all protests and or delivery of petitions in the various Tinkhundla Centres across the country.