MBABANE:Pitoli Shabangu,a traditionalist(uMsumpe) of Moneni says Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini was wrong to accept cattle as “tetfulo” from Cabinet Ministers.
This comes after this Swaziland News reported that, Economic Planning Minister Dr Thambo Gina,Agriculture Minister Mandla Tshauke and Tinkhundla Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini presented cattle to the Prime Minister to thank him for the political appointments.
“It was wrong for the Prime Minister to accept tetfulo from the Minister, kwetfula is only reserved for the King”, said the Moneni senior citizen.
The cows allegedly presented by the Ministers were found at the PM’s home at Nhlambeni along the Mhlaleni-Nhlangano road adjacent to Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thulisile Dladla’s home.
PM Russell Mmiso Dlamini declined to comment about the matter.
Reached for comments on Monday evening,King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane clarified that kwetfula “is exclusively reserved” for the Monarch.
“Our experience is that tetfulo(King’s presents) are an exclusivity of the Monarch,the rest of us receive gifts.Just like in the case of libation,the traditional beer that is poured on the ground to appease ancestors.It’s an exclusivity for the dead and not anyone in the family.We are however mindful of the fact that innocently people use words that do not belong to a particular situation.Princesses in this country are at times referred to as Emazinyane even by the media yet that applies only to Princes”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter,he was asked to respond on behalf of the three(3)Ministers.
On another note,the Ministers are alleged to have presented seventeen(17) cattle to the Prime Minister thanking him for the political appointments as Cabinet Ministers.
Cattle allegedly presented by Cabinet Ministers to the Prime Minister.