CHILLY WEATHER FAILS TO DETER THE MASSES

LOBAMBA - The chilly weather did not dampen the spirits of thousands of emaSwati who converged at Sibaya to listen to His Majesty King Mswati III’s address.  

Most were walking wardrobes, having donned an assortment of warm clothing, anticipating a continuation of the cold front that started on Monday. However, yesterday’s temperatures had improved from those of Monday, as, on some intervals, people were seen enjoying to bask in the rare sun. They started filing into the Ludzidzini Royal Residence as early as 8am, some walking on foot, others alighting from trucks, buses and kombis that were organised by government. Most people, however, may have shunned trucks, as a number of the vehicles arrived carrying only a few people. Noteworthy, many people arrived late for Sibaya, as they were seen forming long queues at the arrival’s security check-point, even after 2pm. Those who had arrived earlier mingled around the culture arena, conversing among themselves, while awaiting to be summoned into the cattle byre, where they were to listen to the King’s address.

Hailer

A loud hailer was then used at about 1.30pm, summoning everyone into the cattle byre.  The throngs went through another security checkpoint outside the kraal, where they were cleared for the event. There was relief from most of the people when they found that an artificial turf had been laid in the cattle byre for people to sit on and avoid muddying their clothes with the damp cow dung. This year’s Sibaya was also attended by students from the Buckswood School. Members of the diplomatic corps also attended and an artificial turf was also laid for them in the front row. Acting Ludzidzini Indvuna, Themba Ginindza, at times warned the people as they trickled into the cattle byre to hurry and make themselves comfortable. At about 2.30pm, the royal family started walking into the kraal to assume their positions opposite the large crowd. Her Majesty the Indlovukazi was also welcomed with loud ululations as she went to take her seat, accompanied by royal family members and Lutsango.

Applause

The long wait by the throngs of people finally paid off at 2.57pm, when His Majesty walked in to a rapturous applause, ululation and praise singing. The throngs went mad with screams of ‘Bayethe!’, as he graced the Sibaya with an entourage of royal family members that included princes, chiefs and others. His Majesty’s speech lasted about 40 minutes, after which he retired to the inner compounds of the royal residence. Ginindza then had a tough time bringing the people to order as some seemed hungry by then. When he announced that food had been served, ‘inkhosi iniphekele’ the people did not wait for him to say ‘Bayethe!’ first, but they shouted in his stead. Ginindza saw the error and corrected it by shouting ‘Bayethe!’ again, ahead of the throngs. The people also displayed impatience by leaving the cattle byre while the Indlovukazi was still seated. They also could not heed continuous reprimands by the indvuna. This was the first Sibaya to be called after the outbreak of the COVID-19 and the civil unrest.

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