Africa-Press – Eswatini. Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson says in terms of Customary Law, “tetfulo” homage gifts remain an exclusive prerogative of the Monarchy.
Responding on Thursday evening when asked to clarify if “Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze is now allowed to accept tetfulo like the King”, the King’s Spokesperson stated that while homage gifts remain the prerogative of the Monarchy, a visiting person of leader can be publicly be appreciated with a gift.
But in the case of Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze receiving alleged “tetfulo” known as “litiya la-Commander”, the King’s Spokesperson stated that, a gift cannot be demanded but must be presented freely and/or without any duress.
“There is a very thin line between tetfulo (customary gifts to the Monarchy) and common gifts to anyone such that they are now used interchangeably. That it may be, customary gifts to the Monarch/Monarchy are more of a homage in nature than common gifts given to relatives, friends and visitors. Our experience is that homage in this country is reserved for the Monarch and Monarchy. The rest of us fall outside the homage bracket which occur freely by the grace of tradition and not by demand,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze had been allegedly forcing soldiers to contribute monies from fifty to five hundred Rands (R50.00-R500.00) depending on seniority, the Commander allegedly “receives between ten and twenty thousand Rands (R10,000.00-R20,000.00) per-visit when visiting the various Army Barracks.
It has been reported that, some soldiers who were forced to contribute, were subsequently refunded after this publication exposed the alleged corruption.
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