Times Of Swaziland: 2 MPS PRESENT COWS TO KING, ACCUSED OF CAMPAIGNING

2 MPS PRESENT COWS TO KING, ACCUSED OF CAMPAIGNING
================================================================================
BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 22/04/2021 08:13:00


MBABANE – Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
The above saying has rung true for two Members of Parliament (MPs) who presented
cows as gifts to His Majesty King Mswati III for his 53rd Birthday. This is
because some of their colleagues allege that they were campaigning for the two
vacant Cabinet positions. The MPs who pledged gifts to the King, who turned 53
years old last Monday, are Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze and Maphalaleni MP
Mabulala Maseko.
According to an announcement made by the Minister of Home Affairs, Princess
Lindiwe, before the King last Sunday at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence, MP
Sibandze pledged two cows while MP Maseko pledged one.
However, some of their colleagues have frowned upon this move, alleging that it
was a campaign of some sort. The vacant positions in Cabinet are that of the
minister of Public Service and minister of Labour and Social Security following
the passing away of the former ministers Christian Ntshangase and Makhosi
Vilakati, respectively, due to COVID-19-related illnesses.
Unfortunate
In an interview yesterday, MP Sibandze said it was unfortunate that people would
always talk. He wondered if for a person to qualify as a minister they had to
give cows and said this would be sad. “If you don’t want to be criticised,
do nothing, say nothing and be nothing,” said MP Sibandze. He said presenting
gifts to the King (kwetfula) was a thing that was part of Eswatini culture and
he saw nothing wrong with it. Sibandze said for the past 30 years, he had always
ensured that he played a social responsibility role and giving was something
which made him happy. He said for the past few weekends, he had been
distributing food hampers in various communities, including the church.
“The gift to the King was the fifth one and I gave him gifts while I was in
office and even during the 50/50 Double Celebrations while I was still a student
at Wits. I came to Eswatini to do the same,” said Sibandze. The MP said he
could not stop people from making whatever comments they wanted, but said he
knew of an MP who donated to the King privately and also behind the scenes to
the King’s children. Sibandze said he knew for a fact that MPs would be
donating to the King even before their term ended and, therefore, saw nothing
out of the ordinary. “Why is there a fascination with being a minister now?”
wondered Sibandze. He wondered if all the other people who donated to the King
only did so because they wanted favours from the authorities. “I have even
donated to Philani Maswati and I absolutely find nothing amiss with it,” he
said.