CHIEF GIJA REFUSES TO SIGN KING’S CONSENT, STALLS MULTIMILLION BUSINESS

MBABANE – A businessman at Kutsimuleni, under Mkhiweni Constituency has lost millions of Emalangeni after his business was hindered for four years due to the Manzini Regional Administrator (RA), Chief Gija’s refusal to sign a King’s consent document for the business.

Mbone Jet Investments Director, Mboniseni Dlamini, said, despite multiple attempts to have the document signed, he had been allegedly stonewalled by the RA, leaving the business unable to operate and in turn losing millions of Emalangeni. Also, 50 people have been left without jobs in the block yard business. A King’s consent is a legal document that grants permission for businesses to operate on Eswatini Nation Land (ENL). Explaining how the business was started, Dlamini said he was allocated a piece of land by a Dlamini family in 2017, and was taken to the Emfangibhekile Royal Kraal for the inner council’s (bandlancane) approval.

Emissary

According to Dlamini, the royal kraal gave him an emissary, who accompanied him to the Eswatini Commercial Amadoda (ECA) for an application to start his business. He explained that all processes were followed and he started operating. Dlamini stated that while conducting his business, he was allegedly stopped by the police and when he requested answers, he was told that his business was operating illegally. “I was then called to the RA’s Office. At the time, it was held by Prince Gcokoma who, after engagements,  said he did not see the need to stop my business from operating,” Dlamini said. He highlighted that his business continued operating until 2018, when Chief Gija was appointed RA. Dlamini was once again called to a meeting with Emfangibhekile Council, the Dlamini family (whom he bought the land from), and Manzini King’s liaison officers.

According to Dlamini, in that meeting, he was told to stop operating his business. “Nothing was said to the family and council which approved all the processes. The attack was on me to stop my work, without any instrument or documentation to that effect,” he claimed. Adding, Dlamini highlighted that Chief Gija told him to stop operating without the King’s consent, despite explaining that this kind of business did not require a King’s consent. “He insisted that I should get the King’s consent, and then come back to him so he can sign it. He said he doesn’t care where I get it from but all he needs is the document so that the business will operate,” Dlamini said. The ECA granted him the King’s consent and the Manzini King’s liaison officer signed it but Chief Gija allegedly refused to sign the document. Dlamini alleged that he was told to inform His Majesty that he had been operating on ENL without authority.

Confused

“I was confused about what to do next because this felt like an attack on my business. This area has been without a chief for 38 years and all the businesses I know here, adopted the same model I chose. None of them were requested to tell His Majesty that they were operating unlawfully,” he stated. He explained that several people tried to reason with Chief Gija but he allegedly insisted that he should go to the King. Dlamini said as a family, they resolved to seek intervention from higher authorities. He said they presented a cow as a form of apology for any wrongdoing he had done. Dlamini mentioned that after they had presented the cow to the King, they returned to Chief Gija, seeking for the King’s consent but he allegedly refused to grant him.

He stated that instead of being granted the document, he was allegedly accused of failure to respect traditional authorities. “I was told I lack respect thus he can even tell the King to reject the cow I presented. We tried to engage with the RA on several occasions. I even sent lincusa to intervene, but nothing changed. Since 2019, the business has stalled because I can’t operate without the King’s consent,” he said. Furthermore, he mentioned that the most painful thing was that the business had hired local people who were now without jobs. Dlamini said per month, the business made around E450 000 turn-over and was still servicing millions in loans, which were taken to start the business. He viewed this as an attack on his business as a liSwati.

Dlamini stated that since the business was stopped, he had never had peace from people who wanted the bricks and sand they paid for. “I owe people their bricks and I am unable to repay them their monies because the business stopped operating. Even if the business can resume operations now, it will take time to regain my customer’s trust,” he said.

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