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Omari' hits town

15/05/2012 00:00:00 webmaster

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MBABANE - The man who calls himself Prince Makhosini Omari Dlamini was the centre of attraction at the Royal Swazi Sun hotel as he made a public appearance in a bid to dispute claims made against him.

You would expect them to be used to seeing prominent personalities, but over a dozen workers at the Royal Swazi Sun hotel couldn’t help but ogle and whisper among themselves at the sight of Dlamini. Dlamini had just stepped onto the pool area of the hotel for a scheduled interview with the Times.

This was his first interview or public appearance in the country since he started making headlines about three weeks ago when an article in the Drum Magazine showed artist Lebo M claiming to have had an unfriendly encounter with him. Later he was quoted in the Sunday Times of South Africa allegedly commenting about the King’s jet which government said was a gift from development partners. His comments were disowned by the government as well as that he is royalty.

He had since tried to clear his name while in South Africa before finally arriving in the country on Sunday.

Dressed in a red military jacket with blue and gold trimmings, a white shirt with gold buttons, blue denim pants, black formal shoes and carrying a brown man bag, Dlamini first pretended not to notice the commotion his arrival was creating. As minutes passed, more and more staff members ‘wandered’ to the pool area and made for the pool bar while stealing glances in his direction.

They congregated by the bar where they whispered among themselves while some pointed in the direction of Dlamini and the Times crew.

It was not long before one of them pulled out her phone and started photographing Dlamini from a distance of about 15 metres. All the while, the interview was proceeding and Dlamini had not given any indication that he noticed what was going on in the periphery of our interview.

Halfway into the interview a man left the rest of the crowd and walked slowly towards the table where the interview was being conducted.

He was carrying a cellphone which was held before his eyes like some form of shield. The man got within a metre of Dlamini and proceeded to take photographs of him. Dlamini just laughed gently while the man went about his business.

"See what you have done," Dlamini said, as the man walked away.

Shortly, thereafter, two women stepped out of the hotel and walked towards the table where the interview was being conducted. When they got to the table, looking at Dlamini and bowing slightly, they both simultaneously said ‘Nkhosi!’

"Siyakuvusela nje Dlamini (We humbly greet you Dlamini)," they said. They then took photographs with him while making gushing remarks about the way he looks and laughs.

Their bravery seemed to have inspired others as more staffers walked over to request an opportunity to take photographs with him. He patiently posed with all of them. As Dlamini went for his seat, three of the workers took out their cellphones and photographed him.

When the interview was over, we stood up together and as we made for the exit, he made for the internet café and more people requested to be photographed with him while others stared from a distance.

Prince Makhosini ‘Omari’ Dlamini is, indeed, ‘in the building’.

‘I am a true blooded royal’

MBABANE – "I am a true blue blooded royal," Prince Makhosini Omari Dlamini said yesterday.

He said his father has Swazi royal blood flowing through his veins while his mother also has royal blood as a member of the Nhlangwini royal house in South Africa. Dlamini said he is, therefore, fully fledged royal.

"It is called bukhosibemvelo which means true royal," he said.

Dlamini said he met with his father on Sunday evening and his father requested that he be kept out of the media stories about his son.

He said he would, therefore, not be revealing his father’s identity as he does not want to embarrass him.

I’ll remove title if I have to - ‘Omari’

MBABANE – Prince Makhosini Omari Dlamini will remove the title of prince before his name if told to do so.

He said this yesterday during an interview with the Times. Dlamini said he does not personally benefit anything from being called a prince.

"I will, however, want to be compensated for all the lucrative business that I have driven certain people’s way - business which I was able to push because I am a prince," he said.

‘DNA test can prove I’m not a Sangweni’

MBABANE – Prince Makhosini ‘Omari’ Dlamini now wants DNA tests conducted to prove that he is not a Sangweni.

Dlamini said this during an interview yesterday afternoon. He was responding to reports that he was born Phumelele Mthokozisi Sangweni, yet he insists that he is a Dlamini.

Dlamini said Mhlengi Moses Sangweni, the man who is alleged to be his biological father, is actually his stepfather.

"When my mum met Mhlengi I was already on the way. I grew up around him and he was the father figure around me during my formative years," he said.

Dlamini alleged he only found out when he was in Grade four during his mother’s divorce that the man he had always known as his father was actually not his biological father.

"Worthy of note is that even though I was initially raised a Sangweni, my birth certificate has always reflected Dlamini and I challenge anyone who claims that my birth certificate reflects Sangweni to produce it," he asserted.

He said even after finding out that he was not a Sangweni, he kept in touch with the Sangwenis because he had grown up around them and was familiar with them.

"If the Sangwenis claim that I am their child, then Mhlengi should conduct a DNA test to prove it," Dlamini said.

Yes he is a Dlamini - mother

MBABANE – The woman who gave birth to Prince Makhosini ‘Omari’ Dlamini says her son is a Dlamini.

Phindiwe Dlamini was responding to a questionnaire which was emailed to her on Friday afternoon.

She is a former Director of the South African Constitutional Court. In a brief statement issued yesterday afternoon, Phindiwe said she is a very private person and does not want to be drawn into this ‘media circus’.

"I’m the only person who will ever know who Makhosini’s father is, not Celiwe (her former sister-in-law). ‘Omari’ was born Dlamini and he will die Dlamini. I will not comment on this story any further or communicate with the media," Phindiwe said.

Mission is going according to plan

MBABANE – Prince Makhosini ‘Omari’ Dlamini said his mission of being in the country was proceeding smoothly.

In an interview last week, Dlamini said he would be coming into the country to fix misconceptions.

This follows comments in the South African Sunday Times which were attributed to him about the King’s jet which was a gift from development partners.

Dlamini said yesterday afternoon he was due to meet with someone who is handling this issue on his behalf.

He said he would brief this person and then leave it to her to deliberate on his behalf.

"Some of the meetings yesterday (Sunday) were about this issue but I will now leave it to this person to handle it for me. It is a female, by the way," Dlamini said.

Comments

Yesterday the headline was, "Omari is a fake". The Times had reached a conclusion in the abscence of Omari's mother's side of the story. Fake journalism. Now that she has confirmed that the boy is a Dlamini, it is not made a headline. Shame on you.
May 15, 2012, 7:03 AM, Bantfwini Masangu (bantu@gmail.com)

What i know and from my experience once u drag the royality`s name, you get Punished for that. If he is lying about his Royal status why is he not being punished.
May 15, 2012, 7:03 AM, cvedee

Uwaka Dlamini wena mnaka akubutwa ngisho nekubutwa loko.
May 15, 2012, 7:03 AM, Mamba Mxolisi (26876869901)

I wonder why he is not officialy denounced, we need more clarity here, the father identity hiding puts more confusion, just like the jet isssue
May 15, 2012, 7:03 AM, Samuel (Sam@yahoo.com)

Omari is a Dlamini through and through, even my 3year old niece can attest to that!
May 15, 2012, 11:07 AM, Ayo (Ayod@gmail.com)

How about reporting the facts. After reading all the news articles, what is true and what is not??????
May 15, 2012, 11:07 AM, JVH

What is the agenda ahead of all this? Somebody help us on the true identity of the so called "Prince". If this is true news, what are the royalties saying about it?
May 15, 2012, 4:57 PM, Maseko Nkosinathi (nathisekos@gmail.com)