By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. When analyzing King Mswati’s Speech from the Throne and the subsequent Budget Speech delivered by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg, the mathematical aspect exposes what might appear as contradiction yet a convergence with one common motive, to steal public funds.
King Mswati in his own words when addressing Parliament and the Nation recently stated that, the International Convention Centre (ICC) has been completed and will be used to host the upcoming forty (40) years on the Throne and birthday double celebration next month.
But Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg subsequently emerged with a R100million budget item saying, the money has been allocated to ensure that the ICC is fully completed in what to me appeared as a deliberate act of money laundering.
Well, I don’t want to make public the “Draft Budget” as this might expose my sources in Government but, it’s very unfortunate to note that a whole Government could change a National Budget, reduce monies for other essential public services just to ensure that, R100million goes to King Mswati and his political thieves.
The truth is, this money will be used by the Ministry of Home Affairs when preparing for the upcoming King’s birthday and forty (40) years on the Throne event, the budget item was disguised to shield Mswati so that, he could be seen as a King who does not use public funds to host such extravagant events.
Indeed, not all the R100million will go to Mswati’s pockets but, individuals owning companies allegedly linked to Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe’s Jesus Calls Worship Centre (JCWC) will also benefit, we have the lion King in this country who eats first and then the cubs being the political thieves working will the Monarch, will eat as well.
The R100million is a large prey to be enjoyed by the lion King and the cubs being the JC alleged thieves and others working with the Monarch.
King Mswati’s Spokesperson previously told that, the King is using monies donated by companies within the private sector to host such events and in my view, this is far from the truth.
The King has been laundering public funds through budgets allocated to the Army, the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) among other State institutions and now, the R100million is disguised as a budget to ensure that, the already completed multibillion International Convention Centre is fully completed.
It is very unfortunate to note that, less money has been allocated for service delivery but, public funds are used to celebrate King Mswati’s birthday and 40 years on the Throne, what has Mswati done for this poverty stricken country to deserve such honor at the expense of the financially struggling emaSwati?.
This country is facing a health crisis amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals, deteriorating state of roads while schools face shortage of both working equipment and human resources.
In the current National Budget, elderly grants were not increased and the full implementation of the salary review for civil servants had to be postponed to July 2026 by an extravagant Government, citing financial constraints.
But despite the fact that, our country is facing socio-economic challenges, Government or Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg is assisting Mswati to steal R100million by manipulating the National Budget.
Companies within the private sector are heavily taxed in this country, the King grabs taxes and will also benefit from the donations for his birthday and 40 years on the Throne extravagant event.
So public funds or taxes in this country must be enjoyed by the King who has been organizing lavish events just to dance with his political thieves while emaSwati die in public hospitals?. What a shameful Government!.
