King Mswati has lost confident in Magudvulela
Mbabane-Chief of Ntfonjeni Prince Magudvulela who was expelled unceremoniously by King Mswati III from the elite Inyatsi regiment in December 2021 during the Incwala Ceremony is reported to be on the brink of losing his chieftaincy.
Sources cite his recent removal as Chairman of the committee responsible for the Kings Bursary Scheme as a step towards the chief’s ultimate removal from all matters that are related to the monarch.
The money from the Kings Bursary Scheme does not come from government, Tibiyo TakaNgwane nor Tisuka TakaNgwane; but directly from the King’s pocket. The King is said to have made available a bursary scheme that caters for those who, for various reasons, did not get assistance from the country’s existing systems or institutions. The people being assisted by the King come from all walks of life.
In 2011 Bheki Dlamini, the Chief Officer at the King’s Office confirmed the availability of such a bursary scheme.
According to well-placed sources, King Mswati has lost all confidence and trust in Magudvulela following his excursion to the People’s Republic of China also known as mainland China with a clique of powerful legislators. During the trip it is alleged that the legislators received undisclosed amounts of money to lobby eSwatini Members of Parliament to terminate diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Chief is also a Senator in Parliament.
As such one of the main reasons behind his removal from the Inyatsi regiment is because his participation in the trip to China is viewed as an attempt to “sell out” the country “watsengisa live.” The King is reported to have been so incensed with Magudvulela that in a fit of anger it is alleged that the king uttered that he will soon relieve him of his duties as a chief.
However, because there are certain procedures that need to be pursued in order for a chief to be officially stripped of his portfolio and position of authority, the Prince still retains his title. Nonetheless, the move towards withdrawing his chieftaincy has already been initiated by reducing his sphere of influence.
According to a prominent politician in the Northern Hhohho region, the Royal residence, umphakatsi at Ludzibini near Ndlalambi whose inner council has been is mandated to oversee all matters and deliberate over disciplinary cases that arise there and which is governed by Chief Magudvulela has been revoked of its authority to do so. All such matters are now handled by the Mkhuzweni Royal Residence umphakatsi. It is anticipated that the Chief will soon be summoned to Ludzidzini where he will be informed that he no longer holds the title of Chief.
Other allegations related to the Chiefs removal from power are that he is part of a cabal that is attempting to mobilize chiefs against the authorities of the country. Chief Magudvulela has however denied the reports of his involvement in mobilizing chiefs against Eswatini’s authorities.
From the time that reports of his participation in untoward activities against the government or the monarch have surfaced he has remained vehement in his stance of innocence. In fact the Chief continues to pledge his deep allegiance to the Monarchy.
His trip to The Peoples Republic of China which has been verified as well as the people who accompanied him is what places him in a rather dim light. It is well documented that the King is a staunch supporter of Taiwan to the extent that he actually reiterated Eswatini’s support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system at the 73rd General Assembly on Sept. 26 2018 in New York.
In recent decades The People’s Republic of China’s has been seen as increasing its sphere of influence in Africa. In its quest to become the next superpower it has engaged in diplomatic relations with most African countries. This has been at the expense of Taiwan which it views as a renegade province of its own and not an independent country.
However, Eswatini is the only African country that recognizes and has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a situation that the Peoples Republic of China would like to see reversed. The latter has used its vast financial resources to sway African countries to accept it as an ally. To this end, monies that were exchanged or which were received by the visiting local legislators in that country could be perceived as an attempt by the Republic of China to acquire political favours.
This situation has also been exacerbated by the political protest actions that occurred in June 2021 which certain quarters have claimed to have been sponsored by foreign elements. The fact that King Mswati declared in his recent speech when dispersing the regiments following the Incwala ceremony that “we know the perpetrators of the violence” gives a loaded hint of who he is talking about when one considers the other member of the Inyatsi regiment who was also given marching orders in December.
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