By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Mswati has accumulated wealth worth R10billion($500million),according to Forbes rating, as alleged unfair competition business environment created by giant companies linked to the King worsen poverty situation while creating tension.

Eswatini is a tiny Kingdom with about 70% of the population living below the poverty line,has been struggling with a collapsed health and education system.

Hundreds are reportedly dying amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals while State Universities or institutions of higher learning now rely on donations for working equipment with financially struggling students dropping out.

The World Bank reported that,the unemployment rate increased in eSwatini from 23% to 33.3% in 2021 amid escalating costs of basic commodities.

But in the midst of the poverty situation,King Mswati,the Africa’s last absolute Monarch,owns shares in giant companies in the construction,tourism,agriculture, telecommunications and forestry industries among others.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Thursday,Percy Simelane,the King’s Spokesperson said,it was difficult to know how Forbes reached the figure suggesting that,the King’s wealth was worth R10billion(500million).

“As the King’s rating formulae is an exclusivity to the person(s)who do the rating it shall continue to be difficult to figure what exactly was being calculated or considered as variables to his wealth.We therefore elect not to commit half-headedly and pretend we know how the sum total was reached.The figures keep on changing and we never get to know why it changes from time to time”, said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to a questionnaire from this publication.

On Wednesday this week,Thulisile Dladla,the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) visited Mgidzangcunu in the outskirts of Vuvulane,one of the areas situated in the poverty stricken Lubombo Region which is facing high levels poverty.

The purpose of the visit,it has been disclosed,was to assess the poverty situation however,similar visits by senior Government officials and politicians were witnessed before without a political will to address the challenges affecting the people of Mgidzangcunu.

But the poverty situation at Mgidzangcunu is experienced a few meters away from sugar-cane fields that supply the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation(RESC) at Mhlume and Simunye, some of the Mgidzangcunu citizens were forced to poverty after their sugar-cane fields were forcefully grabbed by King Mswati and his Mother Ntombi Tfwala.

It has been reported that in 2021,eSwatini exported raw sugar worth over R8billion, the sugar was exported to countries that include South Africa,Kenya,Rwanda and other parts of Europe.

Speaking to this publication on Thursday,Mphisi Dlamini,the Acting Chief of Vuvulane said,the poverty situation in the area was worsened by the King’s decision to grab their land for his personal sugar-cane farming business.

“This land Farm 860 was previously owned by British investors during the colonial era and when they left the country,they handed it over to the residents.But the people are living in poverty because what rightfully belongs to them was grabbed by royalty,” said the Acting Chief who was recently persecuted by the Office of the Regional Administrator for being the voice of the oppressed Vuvulane residents.

Dlamini said,they appreciated the visit by the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) so she could witness and receive first hand information regarding the poverty situation in the area.

“Actually,it’s not only Mgidzangcunu, sibongile kufika kwaleliphini laNdvunaNkhulu,lente umsebenti loncomekako.The poverty is also affecting Macethuka,Khomba-so,Section 19 and Mabhawini.These areas are facing poverty such that, even the children don’t have Identification(ID) cards because their parents can’t afford the costs”,said the Acting Chief.

Nick Jackson,the Managing Director of the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation(RESC) had not responded at the time of compiling this report, he was asked by this publication to clarify if the sugar company has poverty alleviation programs to assist the people of Vuvulane.

On another note,as the poverty situation worsen in eSwatini,frustrated businesspeople reported Inyatsi Group Holdings and Montingy Investments to the Eswatini Competition Commission(ECC).

The companies with alleged links to Mswati were reported by the Federation of Eswatini Business Community(FESBC) and they are accused of alleged unfair competition practices.

But both Inyatsi Group and Montigny Investments denied the allegations however,the high level of poverty and equality in eSwatini continues to create tension.

Tum DuPont, the President of the Federation of Eswatini Business Community(FESBC) told this publication earlier that,indigenous businessepeople are “frustrated by what is fast becoming” a hostile business environment marred by unfair competition.

“Local businesspeople are frustrated and they always complain to us as FESBC hence we decided to take action,” said the FESBC President.

Reached for comments by this publication,Brian Sangweni,the Spokesperson of eSwatini's main political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO)said, the high levels of poverty in the country was created or perpetrated by Tinkhundla system of Governance which he described as a capitalist system.

“You will note that,the system was designed to give the King political power and he uses that power to accumulate wealth for himself.This resulted to inequality where the wealth is not equally distributed to the people resulting to the high level of poverty.Furthermore,this resulted to key institutions like the health system struggling with no resources because the wealth is circulating around the King and his trusted servants,” said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.