By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Ncumbi Maziya, the powerful, influential and politically connected member of the Ludzidzini Council is a subject of a high level investigation by the Eswatini Revenue Authority(ERA), for allegedly defrauding the institution taxes in transactions amounting to over R3.8million.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News,Vusi Dlamini, the Eswatini Revenue Authority(ERS) Director of Communications said, the revenue institution was restricted by the law to discuss this matter with the media except in a court of law.

“Unfortunately as the Eswatini Revenue Service(ERS),we do not discuss issues of our clients in the public domain except in a Court of Law. This prohibition is provided in the Legislation we administer as well as ERS Policies.So even in this case this prohibition applies”, said the Communications Director. 

But an independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, between the period of 2018 and 2020, the Ludzidzini Council member ‘smuggled’ goods through his various companies, in the process, he allegedly misrepresented to the revenue authority that, the goods or services procured, belonged to King Mswati who is exempted from paying tax. 

Documentary evidence obtained during the course of an investigation by this publication suggest that, on or around the 23rd September 2020, through his N-Plus Logistics(PTY) LTD trading as First World Material, the Ludzidzini Council powerful member allegedly smuggled a Tele-transmission Outward worth one hundred and eighty-three thousand Rands, eight hundred and twenty-nine, eighty-five cents(R183,829.85) without paying tax due to revenue authority.

According to the documents, the King’s man allegedly purchased the Transmission from Foshan Xinmel Ceramic Co. Ltd, a company based in China.

But before that, on or around 11th November 2019, Maziya’s All Sorts Enterprises defrauded the revenue authority by failing to declare invoice number 20190401A01 worth four hundred and nine-five thousand, two hundred and fifty Rands(R495,250.00), again the product was described in the invoice as “Tele-transmission Outward”.

Part of the evidence further suggests that,on or around the 14th July 2020, the Ludzidzini Council member allegedly smuggled another Tele-transmission Outward ZYD worth $32,294.40 and/or five hundred and nine-four thousand Rands, six hundred two, twenty-five cents(R594,602.25).

Ncumbi Maziya,the politically connected Ludzidzini Council member avoided questions from this publication,he failed to respond to a questionnaire sent to him seeking clarity regarding the matter or the ongoing investigation.

Responding to questions from this publication, Chief Mdlaka Gamedze, the Chairman of the Ludzidzini Council said, it’s hard to disclose what might happen to Maziya as the matter, in question, was still a subject of an investigation.

“It’s an investigation, so we don’t know what will happen to him thereafter”, said the Chairman of the Ludzidzini Council when speaking to publication on Tuesday evening.

But one of Mswati’s senior bodyguards told this publication that, Maziya tried to approach Prince Majaha to help him mitigate before the King(Kutigicita eNkhosini) regarding the matter, however, the Prince is said to have refused citing the seriousness of the matter.

“It’s a serious matter that angered the King, these days iNkhosi itsi lebantfu labaganga ngeligama layo bayicabanisa naleSive. Waganga ngentfo letsintsa imali-ke maye Babe!!! konakele, lona nje use usenkingeni besazama kufihla nalama TLB, SRA ufuna kumudla.It’s a serious matter, Ncumbi even tried to approach Majaha to assist him mitigate before the King but Majaha refused, saying he doesn’t want to involve himself considering the seriousness of the matter”, said the royal insider.

A questionnaire was sent to Prince Majaha after consistent efforts to contact him, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane described tax evasion as a criminal offense adding that, using the King’s name to obtain favors amounts to extortion.

“Tax evasion is of criminal nature and using the King's name in vain to get favours appears to be extortion  to us. Unfortunately both are normally done  behind closed doors away from the public eye and it is difficult to know what exactly happened in the alleged maneuvers in question.We beg not to pretend we know what exactly happened and why lest we contaminate the alleged investigation,” said the King’s Spokesperson.