Times Of Swaziland: CHIEF GIJA: ARREST THOSE WHO  CHARGE FOR IMIPHAKATSI STAMPS

CHIEF GIJA: ARREST THOSE WHO  CHARGE FOR IMIPHAKATSI STAMPS
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Mthunzi Mdluli on 02/07/2024 08:57:00


MBABANE – Following the public outcry on charging residents for imiphakatsi
stamps, Chief Gija has called for the arrest of anyone who charged for the
service.
The Manzini Regional Administrator (RA), Chief Gija, is also calling for the
arrest of anyone who charges members of the public for other services, such as
confirmation letters issued by the royal kraals. Recently, Ekutsimuleni
residents, under the Mkhiweni Inkhundla, complained that they were not receiving
government services brought by the Ministry of Home Affairs, last Thursday,
because they did not have E100 to pay for the royal kraal stamp. This is not the
first time residents complained about being made to pay for royal kraal stamps.
Affected
It has been gathered that about 50 residents of Ekutsimuleni were affected on
that day. Information gathered was to the effect that the E100 was paid towards
the stamp, cartridge and paper. The royal kraal collected a sum of E5 000 from
typing letters, alleged some of the residents. This means that those who do not
have the E100, especially orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) and the
elderly, will not get the necessary assistance. The less privileged have been
hindered from getting government services since they are expected to pay the
stamp fee. Masotja Magagula, who is a member of Ekutsimuleni Inner Council,
confirmed that the royal kraal was charging residents for the royal kraal stamp
and letters confirming that they belonged to the community.
Meanwhile, Chief Gija frowned upon the act of charging the public for the royal
kraal stamp anytime they needed help. He encouraged the affected parties to
report their complaints to the regional office. He wondered why the responsible
individuals continued to charge the public for the stamp, despite being warned
several times. “How are we dealing with this issue if we (chiefs) are involved
in this kind of practice? We have one King as well as government system, which
is the Tinkhundla System of Government, as a nation,” he said. Chief Gija
wanted to know whether community members and the royal kraal agreed to the use
of a computer to type conformation letters. He said: “Were the citizens
involved in all this? If they are now running a business by charging the
residents, why are they not calling the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) to tax
their business?” he asked.
The Manzini RA further said people failing to pay allegiance to the King through
kuhlehla must pay a fee for not attending meetings held within their
imiphakatsi, instead of forcing them to pay for a stamp fee. “Bayatigangela
laba and government is supposed to arrest these people for such conduct. They
cannot force emaSwati to pay such an amount before getting the royal kraal
stamp. This means that these people operate a stamp company,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wandile Hlatshwako, one of the affected Ekutsimuleni residents, said
he paid E300 before he and two of his unemployed family members received  the
stamp. He further said he also gave another elderly woman E100 in order to get
the service she wanted.
“We raised concerns on why we are being forced to pay such an amount. We were
told that we paid for the services rendered by the umphakatsi. About 50 people
were affected that day. Each of the 50 paid E100. This means they collected E5
000,” alleged Hlatshwako. Hlatshwako further said a Home Affairs official
advised the authorities of Ekutsimuleni not to charge the residents for the
royal kraal stamp. He said the less privileged were the ones affected the most.
On the other hand, Ekutsimuleni Indvuna Yemcuba Rogers Mamba, denied the
allegations made by Hlatshwako, that some residents went back home without
getting government services.  Mamba said residents who paid allegiance to the
King knew exactly how the E100 fee came about.
Letters
He said there were certain people who did not take part in activities of the
umphakatsi, such as kuhlehla, but only appeared at the royal kraal when they
required the umphakatsi stamp or confirmation letters. He said: “Chiefdoms do
not get any government subventions for their daily operations to run
effectively. The E100 helps in buying paper, ink, giving a stipend to the
secretary who assists with typing the confirmation letters.  “It is not
everyone who comes for a confirmation letter. However, those who do not need to
type anything only pay E50. I do not remember a single person being turned back
for failing to pay the E100. Only one man raised this concern,” Mamba said. It
was also brought to his attention what Chief Gija had said regarding the
umphakatsi stamp issue. He was told how the chief had always stated that to
charge the public for the stamp was wrong.
In response, the Indvuna Yemcuba, Mamba, said: “There is nowhere that
government freely gives chiefdoms stamps. I cannot comment on what the Manzini
RA said, rather than saying chiefdoms do not get government subventions. Other
areas do get subventions, except chiefdoms. E100 is paid by those who do not
participate in any of our activities at chiefdom level.”