MPS WANT NEW JET FOR KING

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) want a new private jet for His Majesty King Mswati III.

They said the twin-engined McDonnell Douglas DC-9, which was impounded in Canada about six months ago, would no longer be safe for the King as no one knew what things had been done to it.

The legislators made this known during the tabling and adoption of a draft resolution of Parliament’s House of Assembly on the impounded State Aircraft yesterday. As much as they were happy that the Canadian Courts had ordered the release of the aircraft, they were very sceptical about its condition.

Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, who is a member of the committee that was appointed to look into bringing the plane home, somewhat cast a shadow of doubt on its safety state saying that it was possible that it had been compromised. However, it was Nhlambeni MP Frans Dlamini who first made a suggestion that the plane should not only be brought back but must be put in the market for sale and then use the proceeds to purchase a new one. In 2002 MPs at that time stopped and opposed government’s secret plans to purchase a private jet for the King.

“We have to use our minds and eyes here. I have luvalo (panic attack) because the image of the country has been compromised by the impounding of our Head of State’s aircraft. So let’s find another aircraft that has not dark cloud of controversy over it,” submitted the MP.

Kwaluseni MP Mkhosi Dlamini concurred with his colleague and said this plane has been ‘scarred’ and therefore no longer suitable for royalty. The MP was just too doubtful about the condition of the aircraft, which he said he missed seeing, whether flying or just parked at Matsapha Airport.

Last week Friday they called for the release of the aircraft through their submissions in a special parliamentary sitting. Even the Senate also had its say on the matter. As a result a five-member team from the House of Assembly was appointed to draft a public statement on the matter and further draft a petition which would be sent to Canada by a delegation.

The plane in question was officially unveiled by government two years ago as a special gift from an individual whom Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini never revealed to the media when requested to.

However, it happened that late last year the plane became confiscated after Salgaocar shareholder Shanmuga Rethena, popularly known as Shan, obtained an order for its attachment. This was a process which local authorities claimed no knowledge of. But the order calling for the release of the plane was issued by Justice Dow on last Friday after attorneys representing the country successfully argued that the interest of justice favoured its release.

It was further contented that the State aircraft enjoyed diplomatic immunity; hence, it was wrong for Canadian Courts to order it to be impounded in the first place. Be that as it may, it was learnt that in response of these developments Shan filed an appeal seeking to set aside this judgement. The filing of his appeal means that the plane will remain that country pending the outcome of the appeal which will be on April 9, 2015.

When the matter was first brought to court, Swaziland had no representative. It was felt that the Canadian Courts’ had issued an order to have the Swazi plane attached without having heard the side of the other party.

Attorney General Majahenkaba Dlamini, in a recent interview, said Justice Dow dismissed an application by Shan to have the case only discussed in courts. He said Shan had applied that there be a seal whereby the case could only be discussed in courts and no other avenue.
He further said Justice Dow dismissed an application by Shan to have the plane further detained by the Canadian State. Dlamini said this application was dismissed pending appeal.

Also, the businessman’s application to have the country (Swaziland) to pay $3.5 million (approx E35m) as surety to the Canadian Courts’ was dismissed.  Dlamini said instead Justice Dow ordered that costs of the court proceedings be paid by Shan. As for the E35 million allegedly owed to Shan, Swaziland has since applied that it should be cancelled.

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