Africa-Press – Eswatini. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku yesterday left the country to represent His Majesty King Mswati III during the funeral services of two high-profile world leaders.
The DPM, who left by road through the Oskoek Border Post at 11am for Johannesburg, South Africa, will make a first stop in England for the funeral services of British Queen Mother Queen Elizabeth tomorrow.
He will then connect a flight to Japan for the funeral service of slain Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinated while giving a speech at a political campaign event in the city of Bara in July this year. Speaking to journalists before his departure, the DPM stated that his trip had received the blessings of Their Majesties.
“We are going to England for the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth on Monday (tomorrow) and we are hoping to arrive tomorrow (today). We have been made aware that there is tight schedule for the funeral proceedings and we will be required to go through some rehearsals,” he said.
Masuku also confirmed that his delegation would then proceed to Japan for Abe’s funeral to take place on September 27.
“We have been sent by Their Majesties to attend both funeral services and we will return home after that. A detailed report will be shared with the media upon our return,” he promised.
The DPM also confirmed that Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg would act in his position (DPM) for the duration of his absence.
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral services will be held at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace in London at 11am tomorrow.
She passed on last week Thursday at Balmoral Castle, her summer retreat in the Scottish Highlands. She is now lying at the castle’s ballroom, her oak coffin draped in the royal standard of Scotland.
Last Sunday, six gamekeepers from the estate had to bear the late Queen’s coffin from the dining room at Balmoral to a hearse, which carried it on a roundabout, six-hour journey to Edinburg, via Aberdeen. An honor guard received it at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the sovereign’s official residence in Scotland.
On Monday, the coffin was conveyed on the Royal Mile, a grand route through Edinburgh’s Old Town to St Giles Cathedral, where there was a service and vigil. King Charles III and Queen Camilla were be part of that procession, with some members of the royal family walking behind the coffin and other riding vehicles.
She has been lying in state in Westminster since Wednesday for four days until tomorrow morning before it is moved to Westminster Abbey. Meanwhile, the suspect in the shooting of Abe named as Tetsuya Yamagami was subsequently arrested after admitting to shooting the Japanese PM with a homemade gun, claiming to have a grudge against a specific organisation. Several homemade weapons, similar to those used in the attack, were confiscated after a search at the suspect’s house. Abe suffered two bullet wounds to his neck during the attack and also suffered damage to his heart.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
