By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:Alpheous Nxumalo,the Government Spokesperson says accusing him of drinking “umcombotsi” amounts to defamation of character.

This comes after Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament(MP) Marwick Khumalo blasted Nxumalo for accusing him of being a friend to a terrorist by writing an article for this Swaziland News.

The MP was expressing his views about the standoff between Prime Minister and the Auditor General(AG) when attracting the attention of the Government Spokesperson who was mandated by Government to attack anyone speaking to the editor.

Before attacking Khumalo,the Government Spokesperson sent a message to the editor and attacked King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane accusing him of having a romantic relationship with Dlamini and refusing to respect a Government position banning the editor.

Nxumalo went on to accuse MP Marwick Khumalo of being a friend to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini and plotting to overthrow the Government.

But the MP did not take kindly to the serious false accusations,he told the Government Spokesperson that he can’t be dictated by him who he must be friends with.

The MP further urged Nxumalo to back-off and continue drinking “umcombotsi”, a traditional beer believed to be the Government Spokesperson’s favorite drink.

“Ye-Zwemart,bengcela Nkhosi kutsi utjele lesidvwedvwe,kutsi angikhetselwa ngumcombotsi bangani bami. As an elected MP,I have a full right to address the matter pertaining to the AG.Yena akachubeke abongelele kudzilitelwa tindlu kwesive saseMbondzela kuGege,acunjwe ngumcombotsi, intfo lephambene na-Hulumende.Rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty does not make him one”,said the MP in a message sent to the editor.

The Government Spokesperson is fast becoming unpopular as more members of the public even within the Tinkhundla system, accuse him of imposing his ban masterminded by the Prime Minister, dictating to everyone including all emaSwati that they must not speak to the editor and further unfollow the Swaziland News.

But Nxumalo,when commenting his online platform said the sentiments uttered by MP Khumalo accusing him of drinking the traditional beer, amount to defamation of character.

“I wish to categorically spell out that the Marwick Khumalo’s outburst and insults hailed at me were baseless,unprovoked and thus;unwarranted”, said the Government Spokesperson in his online platforms where he normally insults those with different political views.

Nxumalo recently disclosed that,incarcerated MP Bacede Mabuza will lose all his wives if he doesn’t apologize to the King,he was reacting in his online platform amid media reports suggesting that, one of Bacede’s wives Hloniphile Mabuza took the MP to court demanding child maintenance.