Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Mswati might soon employ a Deputy Spokesperson who will work with his current Spokesperson Percy Simelane in handling and responding to the independent media.
Eswatini has been struggling to produce Public Relations Officers(PROs) who understand the significance of clarifying issues, only Percy Simelane and the late Police Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Vusi Masuku managed to climb the ladder and shine, demonstrating the ability to handle hard questions from the media.
As a result, the King re-employed the retired long-serving State Spokesperson Percy Simelane after it transpired that, no one was intelligent enough to manage the King’s reputation and accurately respond to the independent media particularly this Swaziland News “that reports widely about issues of the Monarchy”.
But royal insiders told this publication that, even though the King very happy with Percy Simelane’s ability to respond and manage information published by this publication and other international media entities, “he is extremely worried and imagining how life would be without Percy Simelane” hence the idea of employing the Deputy Spokesperson to be mentored by the current King’s Public Relations Officer(PRO).
Reached for comments on Friday, King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said even though he wouldn’t be sure of what might be in the King’s mind on this particular issue, the Royal Board of Trustees will advise on the possibility of his replacement.
“I wouldn’t be sure of what is in the Administration’s mind with regards to my replacement when I hang my boots. Chances are; the Board of Trustees will according advise the appointing authority away from me.I don’t attend their meetings to be able to pick scent,” he said.
Both the eSwatini Government has been struggling to employ a PRO, strong enough to handle the independent media and respond to hard questions about the King, fallen Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo opted to keep quiet after failing to handle the pressure from this publication.
Royal insiders told this publication that, when Nxumalo and the Government announced that, the Government Spokesperson won’t to respond to questionnaire, the King wondered “if keeping quiet” forms part of a Spokesperson’s” duties.
“INkhosi yavele yabuta kutsi lona losatsi ngeke aphendvule Swaziland News sewutawuphendvula bani ngoba phela ngiyo lebhala kakhulu nga-Hulumende tindzaba tibhame emhlabeni wonkhe, savele sabona kutsi ngeke abuyele lona. Yatsi phela Spokesperson wekubhula umlilo nasabindza kusha sewani-ke, uholela ini?”, said a royal insider.
It is alleged that, shortly after the Government issued a directive not to respond, the King ordered his Spokesperson to respond and manage his reputation by clarifying issues.
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