Times Of Swaziland: PRINCE MAJAHA SHOULD APOLOGISE – BACEDE

PRINCE MAJAHA SHOULD APOLOGISE – BACEDE
================================================================================
 BY NTOMBI MHLONGO on 02/02/2021 09:55:00


MBABANE – “The prince should apologise to the nation.”
This is the opinion of outspoken Hosea Member of Parliament Mduduzi Bacede
Mabuza following utterances made by Prince Majaha, who said he would never
forgive the late political activist Jan Sithole.
Mabuza has, on countless occasions, been seen supporting some of the prince’s
charity initiatives.
The last time he did this was in August last year, when he donated 1 000 bags of
rice to the Prince Majaha Foundation.
Prince Majaha was interviewed by our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY
following a leaked video clip where he is seen sitting on a couch with the late
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Makhosi Vilakati, discussing the death
of Sithole.
Laughter
In the clip, the two (prince and Vilakati) burst into laughter before saying the
deceased Sithole must rest in peace.
In the interview with our sister publication, the prince made it known that
‘he did not like anyone who was giving his dad a hard time’.
This publication sought Mabuza’s personal opinion on the utterances based on
the fact that he was supportive of the prince’s charity initiatives, which
made many conclude that they were friends.
He confirmed that indeed he supported the prince’s charity cause.
MP Mabuza confided that he got to know the prince through the deceased minister
(Vilakati).
He said he (MP) and Makhosi were good friends and that he continued to respect
him and his role as a minister.
Also, he mentioned that he was not a member of any political party, but his
motto was to respect the views and beliefs of others even if he did not
personally subscribe to them.
“As emaSwati, we have been raised to respect each other. And we expect the
respect to come from bottom to the top and vice versa,” the MP said.
Secondly, he mentioned that emaSwati were also known to be people who respected
the dead and showed support to families who lost their loved ones.
“Death is a time  when emaSwati show compassion to each other. They are not
expected to mock those who have died to their families. So, following the
utterances, I can say as much as I do not know how the prince and the late Jan
crossed paths, I cannot support such comments. Culturally, families join each
other in mourning. They show compassion and support,” he said.
Mabuza, who is also a businessman, said even if people had differences, it was
important to respect each other’s views. He said he was not oblivious to the
fact that the prince must have been exercising his own right, but that he needed
to be cautious, especially where death was involved.
“So, as much as the prince can exercise his own right to freedom of
expression, but the same Jan Sithole exercised his right as a human being on how
he wanted to be ruled. So I do not think if I am voicing out my opinion and
beliefs, I do not think that should create enmity,” he said. Mabuza said he
was of the view that if the country’s leadership would allow such actions,
then the country would lose all respect, especially that of being known as a
peaceful nation.
“Makungayekelwa ngabe kuyasiphunyukela,” he said in vernacular.
Choices
He mentioned that there was nothing wrong with any liSwati expressing their
choices on how they wanted to be led.
“So I can say that the prince should come out publicly and withdraw his words.
Right now as emaSwati we are shocked that there could be someone saying such
words during such painful and difficult times. We are losing loved ones, so no
one can laugh or poke fun at that.
“I, myself as an MP, I am wondering what will happen to me if I die based on
the fact that I have always questioned government in terms of accountability.
How many people will come out and tell the whole world that they are happy I’m
dead? If it has happened to Sithole, I worry about myself,” he stated.
Mabuza emphasised that he personally respected the prince, royal family, the
leadership, but that he would never respect what he believed was wrong.
“So that is why I took a position to say that someone should come out and say
sorry to the Eswatini nation,” he said.
Meanwhile,  Mabuza has had his own fair share of troubles ever since he joined
the country’s political scene.
Last year, Mabuza was not only vocal during the debate of the controversial
Cannabis Bill, but also had a tiff with Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, who at some
point ended up kicking him out of the House of Assembly.
This was after the Speaker informed the House that Mabuza was not only
disrespecting his position, but the entire House.
The bone of contention was after he made yet another attempt to move a motion to
disqualify seasoned politician and Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo.
As if that was not enough, in August last year, residents of Coates Valley in
Manzini were treated to a spectacle as Mabuza was arrested by members of the
Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).
His arrest came after the issuance of a warrant for his apprehension for alleged
obstruction.