Times Of Swaziland: Lisa Zikalala thanks His Majesty for mercy

Lisa Zikalala thanks His Majesty for mercy
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 SENZO DLAMINI on 17/10/2011 00:00:00


LUYENGO – Lisa Zikalala, the drug trafficker convicted in Thailand, has broken
her silence.
The 56-year-old Zikalala, who returned to the kingdom in April this year to
serve the remainder of her sentence at the Mawelawela Correctional Institution
at Luyengo in the Manzini region, has profusely thanked His Majesty King Mswati
III for having commanded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation to facilitate her return.
Her profound gratitude is contained in a letter addressed to Isaiah Mzuthini
Ntshangase, the Commissioner of the Correctional Services.
Letter
This newspaper is in possession of the classified letter, endorsed by Zikalala
and dated June 14, 2011.
"I would like you Sir to convey my gratitude to His Majesty Mswati III as he
commanded the ministry of foreign affairs to negotiate for the extradition
treaty," reads the letter, in part. She further writes: "Please thank His
Majesty for the mercy and compassion towards me."
Zikalala, who was married to the late Lubhozo Zikalala of Esitjeni at Lobamba,
returned to the country almost six months ago (April 22, 2011).
Correctional Services Commissioner Isaiah Ntshangase confirmed receipt of
Zikalala’s letter.
Ntshangase, added: "As per her ultimate wish, I’ve already conveyed her
gratitude to His Majesty."
The King, according to the commissioner, was equally enthralled to receive such
a ‘special message’ acknowledging his concerted efforts in bringing home
Zikalala.
"The King was happy as well and demonstrated appreciation," he stated.
Zikalala was arrested upon landing in Thailand in 1995 after she was found in
possession of 3kg of heroin.
She was found guilty as charged and sentenced to hang, but this was later
changed to life in prison.
The life sentence in Thailand is equivalent to 25 years and she served almost 16
years in a Thai prison.
While doing time in that country’s prison, she constantly complained: "Food is
scarce and physical abuse of prisoners is not an uncommon feature."
...she also thanks Ntshangase, Minister Lutfo
LUYENGO – Lisa Zikalala has thanked both Lutfo Dlamini (the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) and Correctional Services
Commissioner Isaiah Ntshangase.
In separate letters addressed to the two, she said she was grateful for the role
they played in negotiating her extradition.
"My purpose of writing this letter is to thank the Swazi government for having
mercy on me by bringing me back from Thailand prison to come and serve the
remainder of my sentence back in my home country," she wrote to Minister
Dlamini.
She also lauded Mphumelelo Hlophe, the former High Commissioner in Malaysia and
now Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for having ensured
that the transfer back home was a huge success.
"May the Lord bless you all and continue to give you wisdom of showing you how
to go about in doing your work that His Majesty has entrusted in your hands,"
she added.
‘I’ve done a bad thing’
LUYENGO – "I have disgraced His Majesty King Mswati III and the Swazi nation
at large."
This is the confession of convicted drug dealer Lisa Zikalala.
Zikalala, in a letter addressed to Correctional Services Commission Isaiah
Ntshangase, in the possession of this newspaper, said her incarceration in
Thailand disgraced the King and every citizen.
She said His Majesty made it possible for her to return home to serve the
remainder of her sentence, "even though I did not deserve since I had disgraced
him and the Swazi nation at large".
Zikalala, in the event she is not granted parole, is expected to regain her
freedom in June 2021.
She has already served 16 years and is left with nine years behind bars.
She says she’s doing fine
LUYENGO – Drug offender Lisa Zikalala says she is doing fine at Mawelawela
Correctional Institution.
Zikalala is doing time at the facility, having been booked in six months ago
(April 22, 2011).
In a brief interview with Correctional Services Commissioner Isaiah Ntshangase
last week, she boldly declared that she was more than content with life at the
institution (ngiphila kakhulu).
She voluntarily told the commissioner that she had no complaints about life in
general since her arrival at the institution.
In a jovial mood, Zikalala, whose relaxed hair was well-combed, even told the
correctional chief that: "Ewu kuguga sekungivalele ekoneni (I’m now growing
old)."
She made such a remark immediately after Ntshangase had quizzed her about the
spectacles she was wearing to enhance her eyesight.
She, together with other offenders, was found busy sewing some uniforms for the
correctional officers in the sewing room.
The stoutly-built Zikalala, from close range, appears to be in good health.
Her light complexion blends well with her bright smile and sparkling eyes.
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Comments
Mpumelelo Hlophe put this criminal in the VIP lounge at Matsapha airport. What a
disgrace to the king and the country! Government should also explain why the
taxpayers' hard earned money was used to pay for a criminal's airticket. The
country is facing financial trouble yet government sees it fit to spend money on
a drug trafficker. Kunendvuku levin we emcubeni nine bekunene! Government,
Lutfo, Mpumelelo, Ntshangase tell the nation who Lisa Zikalala was really
working for.
Oct 17, 2011, 3:40 AM, Sebenele Dlamini
Kuphila kunjalo make nawe wawulingekile kodvwake amuhle Nkulunkulu wabona kutsi
lentfo loyentako ayisiyinhle; setsemba make kwekutsi ufundze sifundvo lesihle
emphilweni. empeleni uwentile umlandvo make.
Oct 17, 2011, 3:40 AM, Mehlwengwadla Nkonyane--- 2735 (mduduzi78@yahoo.com)