The King gets jet as birthday gift
BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE　
MBABANE - His Majesty King Mswati III has received a gift of a DC-9 aircraft ‘from development partners and friends of the Kingdom of Swaziland’ who elected to remain anonymous.
The ‘gift’ to His Majesty was announced by the Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, during a press conference held at Cabinet offices on Tuesday afternoon.
The aircraft arrived just five days after the King celebrated his birthday at Nhlangano, where he was also showered with various gifts, including a cake which was a gift from Taiwan, among other gifts. The Prime Minister told the media that the DC-9 will be used by Their Majesties to travel abroad for national engagements.
However, the head of government said the donors of the aircraft have elected to remain anonymous. The Prime Minister was also coy with information relating to the value of the aircraft, instead, saying that ‘when a person presents someone with a gift, he or she does not disclose the cost involved, but simply gives it to him or her’.
On Tuesday, Cabinet ministers went to the Matsapha international airport to see the aeroplane which had been presented to His Majesty.
"His Majesty’s Government has the honour to announce to the nation that His Majesty King Mswati III and Ingwenyama today received a gift of a DC-9 Aircraft from development partners and friends of the Kingdom of Swaziland to be for Their Majesties’　travels abroad　 for engagements　of national interest. The donors of this magnificent gift have elected to remain anonymous. On behalf of His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, the government of Swaziland and the entire Swazi nation, we thank all these donors most sincerely for this kind gesture," he said.
The aircraft is said to have landed at the Matsapha International Airport on Tuesday afternoon and only Cabinet ministers and close members of the royal family were allowed to have a look at it.
The press conference, which lasted for about 15 minutes, was attended by, among others, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mtiti Fakudze, Secretary to Cabinet Mbuso Dlamini and Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane.
Security stops taking of plane’s pictures
MATSAPHA – The media and people were refused permission to take pictures of the aircraft on Tuesday.
This was after word had got out that there was a special plane that had landed at Matsapha International Airport.
One bystander who was snapping at the tarmac was called aside by the security officials and asked to delete the pictures. This left many people to speculate on what the plane was about.
At about 4pm there were many security officials at the airport and when our photographer tried to take a picture he was questioned and told to stop.
There were, however, two Cabinet ministers’ vehicles already parked there and they are said to have been in the VIP section of the airport with other senior government officials to inspect the plane.
Later on in the day there was a call from the Government Press Office that there would be a press conference at 7pm, it was later changed to 6.30pm.
The conference was convened to officially announce the arrival of the plane as a gift for the King.
Comments
This is very nice. Thank you to the anonymous donors who must have forked out at least E30 million for this gift. It must be a good April month for Swaziland because only early this month we got E1.7 billion from SACU and 3 weeks later our king receives a huge anonymous gift from anonymous donors. Looks like our fortunes are changing. Can someone help me out here, why did the PM have to prescribe to the king as to the usage of the plane? "The plane will be used for trips of national interest" he was quoted as saying. If the king had received a wrist watch, would he have prescribed that it will be used to tell time when he has to attend national meetings? I don't understand the PM's line of reasoning. A gift is used by the recipient in whatever fashion the recipient so chooses, including using it for personal vacations and pleasure. It's the king's gift after all, and not the PM's. Unless the PM is the anonymous donor then I would understand his being prescriptive, but I think we should steer away from prescribing things to the king, especially when it comes to personal gifts. Let him use the plane in whatever way he likes.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Thoughts Without Borders (ths@gmail.com)
You guys must really think we are stupid. This plane was not a gift but bought thru the government. Remember that the USA and other first world countries threatened to ban the plane landing should it be bought when the people are living below the poverty line.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Abraham (Mr-a07@live.com)
Its gud for the King that he now owns his jet , but what I dont understand why isnt the nation told the people who bought this gift to the king. What are they hiding. So those people are realy doing it for the King or they want something in return? My biggest worry is people are starving here in this country.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Ntokozo (Zithanto@gmail.com)
This gift will be too expensive for the country. It's like donating an X5 to a man who is struggling to buy a loaf of bread for his children. How will he service such a huge vehicle when his own children are struggling.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Msizi Tembe (msizi.tembe@gmail.com)
Congratulations to our Majesties. At least now we have one plane to use at Sikhuphe. We need more, as our Sikhuphe is so big.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Impressed
Well done to the development partners for the gift.and thumbs up to his Majesty's Government for declaring the gift in public..that is a true sign of leading by example in good governance. By declaring the Plane I am hoping that it now officially belongs to the Swazi Nation not an individual. The bible teaches that when one gives the other hand should not know what the other is doing thus i think the development partners request not to be unmasked is good...here is hoping therefore that the plane is well maintained for future generations..ngabe stakutsi sayitsatsaphi kuleto titukulwane?
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Thembela (tmthole7@yahoo.com)
What a gift! At least we are happy some people felt they can do this for our king, surely one day its going to be such a big donation for the ordinary populace
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, msutfu (msutfumuz@yahoo.com)
It would have been great for the PM to reveal the "friends of the king" who gave his majesty this wonderful gift lest the masses assume its taxpayers monies that was used for this purchase, its a very sensitive issue considering the state of the economy this would only add insult to injury.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Niso Shabangu (nshabangu@realnet.co.sz)
Words can't describe how I felt when I finally saw the 'bicycle' pictures. Khula Mlisa!!!
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Ntokozo Simelane Sojhix (Sojhixsimz@gmail.com)
For the sake of the people of Swaziland, this expensive toy should be rejected. The origins of the funds to buy are questionable, and even worse, its going to burn the taxpayers cash to maintain it. Any ethical and conscientious leader would reject it in the interest of his/her people.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Hermjakob (formatting.solutions@gmail.com)
If its really a 'gift', siyabonga. In not a long time kutabe kuvulwa SIKHUPHE and bekutaba lihlazo kwakha sibaya ungenawuvalela lutfo kuso, in short ngitsi we are being bullied here. Indiza ITSENGIWE uma siphiwe let the 'kind' people be known khona sitobonga.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, menzi stanley (stanleymthembu@yahoo.com)
Will there ever be transparency lakaNgwane? Why donors remain anonymous?
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Andile (andilesibandze@yahoo.com)
So Majozi and Barnabas are now development partners? What a waste of public funds! No matter what they can say, we know that the money came from public coffers and we will never believe ichamuka etininini tenkhosi! Prove us wrong by telling us.
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, Lord Anthony (anthonym198@gmail.com)
Siyabonga kakhulu indiza lebesiyindzinga kakhulu ,but why kungaphumelwa ebaleni. Ngoba emaswati ayahlonipha kute lesingakusho.Who is going to maintain the jet? How many trips per month? Where are going to park the jet?
Apr 26, 2012, 7:01 AM, zweli mkhonta (zweli@swazi.net)
Maye siyabonga le gift yeNkhosi but mine ngicabanga kutsi for our government to be on a safe side the donor should be named. Besabelani kwatiwa more especially looking at the size of the gift. siyabonga
Apr 26, 2012, 11:50 AM, Ngangenyoni Dlamini (dlaminingangenyoni@yahoo.com)
I wonder who are the anonymous development partners because all along every donor was publicized e.g Kuwait donated about E15m towards the construction of the sports emporium at UNISWA, but what's going on now. Pm should have found another plan of convincing the nation not this one, Phela bekunene kuyacaca nje kutsi yimali yembuso le! Even a primary school kid sees this. Kwesibili, asitjelwa ngani i-value yayo, Swazi's! This is very dangerous ngoba maybe the donor stole the gift he/she doesn't know it's price and kutiveta vele bekutase kuyamshela nje kwatibani, so, kumcoka kuphumela EBALENI sometimes. PM PLEASE TELL US THE TRUTH. OKAY KONA-KE SESIFUNA KUBONGA SITOBONGA BANI!!!!!!.
Apr 26, 2012, 12:29 PM, Mhile (www.mphiled@gmail.com)
Bayethe Wena Waphakathi! Dlanini bonkhosi kwenu sesingatsini nje!
Apr 26, 2012, 12:29 PM, fSydney Maseko (finestswazi@rocketmail.com)
Why give a gift that will not benefit a nation? If the so called development partners are interested in development, how about they they use the money since they have a lot towards more development initiatives? you know, prove that they are indeed true developers. I don't get this. One day (God forbid) we will wake up and find Swaziland doesn't belong to the Swazi's....these expensive gifts don't add up
Apr 26, 2012, 12:29 PM, cameletjeni (cshongwe@mailfly.com)
The name of the donor will remain anonymous in Swaziland, but suprisingly in Kuwait the name of the donor is not anonymous. Infact, the Al Watan Daily reported about this 'donor' who has bought his father in-law a private jet as a birthday present. This was on the issue published on the 17 April 2012.
Apr 26, 2012, 12:29 PM, Daniel M. Dludlu (dmdludlu@ymail.com)
Hhawu maswati!...asihlomeni tintsi enhloko...phela yinganekwane le ya PM nema "development partners"....can some international investigators help us out here please!...kukhona lokushaya emanti. The phrase "national interest" is the ticket to plunder taxpayers money for the maintenance and jet fuel....
Apr 26, 2012, 2:02 PM, Skhu (blessed_nku@yahoo.co.uk)
Ngeseba ngisho ku commenter uyati, inhlitiyo iyopha....!
Apr 26, 2012, 2:02 PM, philisile (philsilemismayor@gmail.com)
Yati sentiwa tilima la. Why le jet instead of helping us revive the struggling economy. We are not fools Mr PM. This so called country will never have peace. Let the country boycott, asiyifuni indiza letsengwe nguhulumende waka ngwane. Theres no schoolarships kepha kutsengwa indiza.nxa
Apr 26, 2012, 2:02 PM, mangza (nyonimanga@gmail.com)
I wondered for sometime about the downfall of the economy, but finally the truth has revealed itself. This is tax payers money, Majozi and Sibusiso should be ashamed of themselves.... students cry everyday for their welfare which in turn will be of a great benefit to the country as far as economy is concerned but u guys prefer to spend such huge money in one project and after that then feed the whole nation with a pile of lies.
Apr 26, 2012, 2:31 PM, Ciniso Tfwala (tciniso@ymail.com)
This government thinks we are fools. Who can donate an aircraft at such a time. They have used our monies and that is why they have increased the tax. The money should have been used to treat cancer patients who are dying without medication. It should have been used for paying tuition for university students not this. We need jobs also.
Apr 26, 2012, 2:31 PM, N Z Khatsidze (rmmacaca@gmail.com)
This does not add to anything looking at the current situation in Swaziland. Will Mr annonymous offer to maintain the jet for the king or what? Who do we thank here; the Malaysians at Ngwenya mine or the finance minister or the cabinet at large?
Apr 26, 2012, 3:23 PM, NM Maseko (nathisekos@gmail.com)
Look at the reaction a section of newspaper readers in Kenya gave on this issue on the comments section: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Swazi+king+gets+birthday+jet+amid+financial+crisis/-/1066/1393570/-/n81ks3/-/index.html
Apr 26, 2012, 3:33 PM, Hermjakob (formatting.solutions@gmail.com)
Hha!, lemali ye SACU seyidliwe kanjalo vele ?
Apr 26, 2012, 3:33 PM, Barry (barryhlophe@gmail.com)
The question that one would ask is what kind of a 'development partner' that would give someone a Jet worth about $48m and fail to assist the country in the financial crisis it's in? Another thing, real development partners are in nature transparent, and if this airplane was truly donated by them, they wouldn't mind being known. This whole thing, shows political immaturity by our leaders. They knew very well that this jet story was going to cause much talk, but they didn't do anything about it! I smell a rat here!!
Apr 26, 2012, 3:33 PM, Shukela (dlamini.sizwe@gmail.com)
Clearly the athorities are playing tricks here. This is a plane purchased through the exchange of the iron ore royalties. For a time so many policies on reviving mining sector have been prioritised but in all the documents there is no clear indication on how the funds reach central government who has the sole mandate of offering social services. The taxes realised are too meagre when compared to the proceeds. The country's citizen are short changed and are suffering in silence while the country sinks to deeper poverty. Greed is the prevailing problem within the circles of power. Greed is the problem. Workers are correct to demand salary wage adjustments. The proceeeds received through Tibiyo are purpotedly held in trust for the nation but no to enrich a few and the hangers around the so called indigenous power circles. Who is fooling who? The truth in good time will appear.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:32 PM, Nokuzola Mkhumane (ntovedjo@yahoo.co.uk)
Its been long time comming no surprise there,these people think we are fools.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:32 PM, dman mac (thembix78@hotmail)
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