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Public Works Minister in land dispute

11/08/2012 00:00:00 LUNGA MASUKU

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MBABANE – An alleged land dispute between the Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini and the Dvudvusini Development Committee has led to the stalling of the construction of a police post and a clinic in the area.

Chairman of the Dvu-dvusini Development Com-mittee Uriah Mabuza said the construction of the clinic and police post had not started despite the fact that work on the site should have already begun.

He said the construction of the project could not take off because of the alleged squabble over the land where the clinic and the police post are supposed to be built.

referred

Mabuza said the dispute had already been referred to the Zombodze Royal Kraal. The Zombodze Royal Kraal’s role in the matter is guide the parties concerned to reach common ground with regard to the land issue.

Two weeks ago the Zombodze Royal Kraal deliberated on the issue and resolved that Minister Dlamini should be reported to Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini’s office because the minister had become a stumbling block to development.

"We approached the Zombodze Royal Kraal after major financers threatened to withdraw the aid they were going to put in the project. A German NGO has been asking us when the project will take off," said Mabuza.

I walked out of the meeting, says Minister Ntuthuko’

MBABANE – The Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini said he walked out of the meeting a week ago because they were not interested in hearing his side of the story.

He said this was after he was denied an opportunity to state his case pertaining to the alleged land dispute where a clinic and a police post are supposed to be constructed.

Dlamini said he wanted to explain how he acquired land in the vicinity. The minister said he was approached by eight people who offered him a chance to make an investment in the area. Dlamini claimed the residents gave him land which he would use.

But when Dlamini attended the meeting where he had hoped he would get the opportunity to state his case, he said was told by members of the inner council that he was not needed in the meeting and left the meeting after being told the he was not allowed to address the meeting.

The minister said he went to the meeting on invitation and he was shocked when he was told that he was not needed in the meeting.

"I never asked for land but I was approached by eight people from the area. I was responding to their plea. On the issue of a walk-out I was told that my view or opinion was not needed and there was very little that I could do when the meeting did not want to hear my side.

"After leaving the meeting I then called the acting Ludzidzini Governor Timothy Velabo Mtetwa to inform him about the way I was treated. This was despite my attempt to explain why I was at the meeting. I never had interest in their land and I was never given a fair chance. I never argued with them. I went to that meeting on invitation," Dlamini asserted.

The Land Management Board (LMB) on March 14, last year commissioned the start of work at the site. The construction was expected to have started shortly thereafter.

It was alleged that the construction could not proceed because another person was claiming ownership of the same land.

... minister to build E500 000 shopping complex on his plot

MBABANE – The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ntuthuko Dlamini denied having taken over the land that was allocated to the clinic and police post.

Dlamini said the piece of land that was allocated to him was below the one allocated to the clinic and police post and he intended making an investment of E500 000.

He said a certain Msibi family has since allocated him part of their land and that shows that the people were serious about the offer they made him.

The minister said he would invest E500 000 and the project would have a shopping centre that would house a hardware store and other outlets.

Dlamini said it was not true that he was a defiant person instead he was only looking at the business prospects.

Acting Ludzidzini Governor Timothy Velabo Mtetwa said it was true that Minister Dlamini came to the meeting but decided to leave because the committee did not want to discuss anything with him.

"The committee had summoned Mabloom Mabuza and we wanted to ask the indvuna about certain things that have been happening in the area we asked him to look after. I will make it a point that I talk to Ntuthuko about his conduct.

"The inner council told me he did not conduct himself well before the comm-ittee and I will pass the dismay of the coun-cil about his conduct," said Mtetwa.