By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: King Mswati allegedly threatened and subsequently blocked pro-democracy Member of Parliament(MP) Marwick Khumalo from traveling to the United States(US) to attend a Leadership Program.

This comes after the vibrant MP made submissions in Parliament, questioning the involvement of police officers in political matters that resulted to the ongoing political unrest.

Khumalo stated categorically that the ongoing crisis was not a security issue but a political crisis that required  solutions and this, royal insiders said, angered King Mswati.

Reached for comment, Stephanie Sandoval, the Spokesperson of the Embassy of the United States Eswatini said they have been in touch with the Government on the issue and referred this publication to the eSwatini Government for further comments.

“We’ve been in touch with the Eswatini Government and we refer any questions to them,” she said.

A questionnaire was sent to Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, MP Marwick Khumalo confirmed that a royal command was issued for him not to attend the Leadership Program.

“Yes, it’s true”, said the MP briefly when responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News.

Parliament insiders told this publication that MP Marwick Khumalo was supposed to fly to the US on Friday, together with Senator Mkhululi Dlamini, Princess Tsandzile, journalists and officials from the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC).

Others who travelled to the United States(US) this week for the same Leadership Program include Barnes Dlamini from the Institute for Democracy and Leadership(IDEAL), Mfankhona Nkambule(Times journalist) and human rights lawyer Mary DaSilva among others.

“A command was issued on Thursday night that Khumalo and others must not dare fly to the US,kutsitiwe uma bahamba batobuya kulabo live. The command was actually targeting Khumalo on fears that he might speak issues of democracy in that country like Magawugawu who is in the UK lobbying British MPs to take action against the country,” said a Parliament insider.

Efforts to reach Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba who allegedly communicated the command proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

The International Visitors Leadership Program(IVLP)offered by the US has benefitted many Swazis, MPs Phila Buthelezi and Thulie Dladla who serve as Cabinet Ministers are among the beneficiaries.

It has been disclosed that after receiving the order from the Clerk to Parliament, MP Marwick Khumalo tried to defy the order and travel to the United States(US) but the threats against him allegedly from Mswati intensified hence he was forced cancel his flight at the O R Tambo International Airport on Friday.

Reached for comments, lawyer Mary DaSilva who was part of the eSwatini team that was travelling with MP Marwick Khumalo confirmed that the Legislator had to cancel his trip while at O R Tambo International Airport.

“Confirmed.He turned back at O.R Tambo,” read a message sent by the lawyer when responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News.

MP Marwick Khumalo has been facing persecution from King Mswati for over twenty(20) years, he once forced him to resign as Speaker of the eSwatini Parliament.

The MP was elected by Members of the House of Assembly, however, Mswati, who rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch overruled Parliament and imposed his own Speaker.