By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Within the royal family,there’s a hierarchy of the royal households, the first being Ligunca(the most senior royal house). The house of Prince Mgunundvu(King’s Sobhuza’s first born son) is the current Ligunca, the most senior royal house within the royal family.
But a new centre of power has since emerged under Princess Sikhanyiso, the most powerful first born daughter of the current King, Mswati.
Sikhanyiso is referred to as Inkhosatana and this means “Inkhosi lencane” a young King or a duplicate of the King.
My grandfather Prince Mgungu once told me how Prince Msimudze(then Head of Ligunca) played a role in making sure that King Mbandzeni become the King.
Mbandzeni then gave Msimudze one of his emaPhovela LaFakudze, the grave of that Liphovela is next to my home at LaMgabhi eTiyeni.
Well,I am trying to lecture the lunatics in Cabinet including Alpheous Nxumalo who think they know the politics of the royal family more than those who are part of this royal institution, that Monarchy is huge and it’s domestic politics are sometimes complicated and understood by a few.
Princess Sikhanyiso is now the emerging most powerful Ligunca, you cannot become a Prime Minister(PM) in this country without the support of Inkhosatana and other members of Prince Mgunundvu’s Ligunca.
The emerging new structure of the royal family suggests that, Sikhanyiso’s first born child Prince Phikolezwe might emerge as the new ‘Prince Mfanasibili’ because he comes from the house of Inkhosatana Sikhanyiso.
Therefore, should the institution of the Monarchy continue to exist(which I doubt it might continue as an absolute Monarchy), Phikolezwe will be the centre of power from the House of Inkhosatana Princess Sikhanyiso.
King Mswati consults widely within the royal family before announcing a Prime Minister(PM), that’s why he always expresses disappointment upon discovering that, “he has been mislead “kudliswa luhlata”.
Therefore, Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini must never think he is King Mswati’s favourite,the King does not have a friend.
In fact, the centre of power within the royal family changes from time to time like the currency exchange rates and therefore, you never get to know where you stand with Labadzala.
In this country, you can become a PM just because the King opted to take advice from those around him including the powerful royal households, that’s why most aspiring Prime Ministers(PMs) normally go to church and act like they are Pastors because they know, doing so is an added advantage as the King is tired of dishonest people surrounding him.
In 1996, King Mswati dismissed Prime Minister Prince Mbilini,after he made reckless statements saying “Basibangisa Bukhosi betfu” amid protests and growing calls for democratic reforms.
The King normally analyzes public opinion,jumps-off a sinking ship and introduce a new scapegoat as the Prime Minister, once he realizes that Russell is no longer credible, he will remove him.
I pity Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo and other Cabinet Ministers who think they know Mswati, you can never know the King, his Praise Singers call him “Lwandle Lolukhulu” because he is very unpredictable.
Therefore,by ordering his Spokesperson Percy Simelane to continue responding to this and clear his name on certain allegations, he is playing deep politics that Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo may not understand because he is not sitting on the Throne.
I don’t want to help him understand, he must remain a ‘political fool’ who think he knows the ruling royal family.
Within the royal family, there are always family members who are politically inclined and support the calls for democratic reforms.
But that does not mean they are against the institution of the Monarchy,they want justice, a free and democratic eSwatini.
Prince Dumisa and Princes Betfusile of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress(NNLC) were among those calling for democracy and the establishment of the Constitutional Monarchy.
Calling for democracy is a project of national interest, eSwatini will eventually be free and the people will be allowed to elect their own Government.
Well others who subscribe to ‘mickey-mouse’ politics by labeling those who call for democracy ‘terrorists’, think by so doing, they are trying to impress Mswati, it’s hard to impress the King.
That “terrorism proscription” was Attorney General(AG) Chief Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo’s project but, it is failing to take-off because it needs serious local and international publicity, the centre of power in the media industry and international reference is the press hence that proscription will never take-off and get maximum publicity.
King Mswati is fully aware that, this country will eventually be democratized and you can never claim to know how he plays his political cards so he can survive even under a new democratic dispensation.
Mswati knows that he is surrounded by political fools and clever people, he wants both his fools and intelligent individuals to play a role in strengthening and protecting the Throne.
Alpheous Nxumalo must play his role of being a political fool and speaking anyhow, that role and character is needed within the Tinkhundla regime and once his image became tainted, the regime will hire another fool.
But he must then not blame King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane for responding, the King will simply call and tell Percy to stop if he doesn’t want to respond.
This week I was speaking to my colleagues in Botswana and asked if they can connect me to the President through his Spokesperson so I can get an interview about wanted President Ian Khama.
I said let me start with the Botswana Government Spokesperson for an interview because I understand protocol and hierarchy.
Percy Simelane is a Spokesperson for a Head of State and is more senior than Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, whether Nxumalo makes noise about this, that will never change.
Percy Simelane’s comment carries more weight than that of Nxumalo because the ruler here is Mswati not Prime Minister(PM) Russell Dlamini.
Mswati was the centre of bad publicity during the political unrest, at some point he embarrassed himself by responding to former Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) Secretary General(SG) Godrich Gardee’s twitter(now X) comment because he had no Spokesperson who was willing to defend him.
Now, Alpheous Nxumalo wants the King’s Spokesperson to keep quiet as if once he does that, the articles will stop, he normally justifies that by saying “Percy must respond in other platforms” who reads those platforms?.
How can one expose you in a Stadium and then you go and respond in a bathroom where only one person is allowed inside, clearly “it’s mickey-mouse” politics by Alpheous and he wants everyone to support his shallow political madness.
Mswati fully understands that,most public officials are happy to see him subjected to bad publicity, some want money or power from him so they can steal from Government not that they love and support him.
Nxumalo and the entire Cabinet must present cattle and seek clarity from the King why he is responding to a publication that was labeled as a terrorist entity by his own Government.
I am here to write and disseminate news to the public without fear or favour, fools of the regime must play their role and allow the independent media to promote access to information.
But then, the time to play ‘mickey-mouse’ politics by defending this evil regime is over, it’s time for democracy and accountability, those who are hungry will always lie to the King claiming to love him.
Source: Swaziland News
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