Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prince Khetsimphilo ‘Fegufegu’ Dlamini, the grandson to King Sobhuza and son to the late Prince Gabheni, allegedly led a powerful royal faction in an attempt to oust Information, Communications and Technology(ICT) Minister Savannah Maziya.
Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, the country is an absolute Monarchy and struggling to fight rampant corruption amid socio-economic inequality, most corruption cases implicate members of the royal family.
An independent investigation uncovered that, the attempt to influence the removal of the Information Minister comes after she launched a high level forensic investigation into allegations of fraud and corruption involving millions of public funds within the troubled Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP), a State entity under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology.
Prince Khetsimphilo ‘Fegufegu’ Dlamini is the RSTP Human Resources Officer and, allegedly implicated in the multimillion looting of public funds, having colluded with his brother Prince Vumile Dlamini, the removed Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Vumile is the son to the late Prince Vovo.
But on or around 15th July 2024, Prince Khetsimphilo was appointed by Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhokhela as the Board member of the Eswatini National Petroleum Company(ENPC), the RSTP Human Resources Officer is quite an influential figure within the royal family by virtue of being born by the late royal strongman Prince Gabheni.
Furthermore, Khetsimphilo is very close to the Natural Resources Minister, his father Prince Gabheni was among the powerful members of the royal family who were backing Prince Lonkhokhela to take over the Throne after the death of King Sobhuza.
But the royal faction was subsequently defeated by another royal powerful faction led by Prince Mfanasibili, the late Prince was supporting Prince Makhosetive who was later crowned as King Mswati.
Prince Mfanasibili who helped King Mswati to take over the Throne was born from the eMbelebeleni Royal House of Prince Makhosikhosi and since Mswati took over the Throne, various royal factions have been battling for power and dominance by seizing State institutions with an alleged intention to loot public resources.
Now, it remains unclear what interests Prince Lonkhokhela had within the Royal Science and Technology Park by strengthening ties with Prince Khetsimphilo through the appointment into the Eswatini Petroleum Company Governing Board, Prince Lonkhokhela is another alleged mastermind in corruption, he was exposed by this publication after engaging in illegal mining.
But it has been disclosed that, after announcing the forensic investigation within the RSTP, Prince Khetsimphilo allegedly colluded with Prince Vumile in the vigorous lobbying of various Governing Councils including Liqoqo, the King’s Advisory Council to oust Minister Savannah Maziya by advising His Majesty the King to remove her through a Cabinet reshuffle, the King allegedly refused.
But an attempt was also made by the powerful royal faction to meet King Mswati through Liqoqo King’s Advisory Council member Prince Bandzile and appointed MP Prince Lindani in an effort to communicate false information about Minister Savannah Maziya.
It has been disclosed that, Prince Khetsimphilo ‘Fegufegu’ Dlamini, the grandson to King Sobhuza might soon resign as the RSTP Human Resources Officer amid allegations suggesting that, he might be implicated in the report and/or findings of the high level forensic investigation.
Efforts to reach Information Minister Savannah Maziya proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments on Friday evening, Prince Khetsimphilo ‘Fegufegu’ Dlamini denied attempting to oust Minister Savannah Maziya adding that, “he doesn’t have powers to appoint or remove Cabinet Ministers”.
When asked about his alleged intention to resign as the multimillion forensic investigation intensify within the Royal Science and Technology Park, the Prince asked not to respond to this specific question saying it was personal.
“Nkhosi Dlamini, a very good evening to you Hlubi. On your last question, allow me to kindly refute such allegations, I have no way of having any reach in so far as the appointments or removal of Cabinet Ministers Nkhosi. However, on the first question may request Nkhosi your humble understanding that it is a more personal issue,” said the Prince.
It has been reported that, the royal faction that attempted to oust the Information Minister, wanted to influence the appointment of Prince Dzabulemanzi as the new RSTP Chief Executive Officer.
But Information Minister Savannah Maziya allegedly refused saying she “will only appoint a CEO recommended by the Board of Directors after a fair and transparent recruitment process”.
Prince Dzabulamanzi is the son of Prince Nqaba and, was born from the royal house of Prince David, the former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister now influential and powerful member of Liqoqo, the King’s Advisory Council.
Reached for comments on Friday, Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) described Tinkhundla system as “indlangayo yeMalangeni”, adding that, members of the royal family are dominating public institutions amid rampant looting.
“Tinkhundla was established to enable members of the royal family to loot public resources. Even the attempt to investigate and fight corruption within the Royal Science and Technology Park will not succeed as the investigation will not be conducted to it’s logical conclusion particularly, if the report implicates members of the royal family”, said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
