PRINCE MAJAHA SHOULD APOLOGISE – BACEDE

MBABANE – “The prince should apologise to the nation.”

This is the opinion of outspoken Hosea Member of Parliament Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza following utterances made by Prince Majaha, who said he would never forgive the late political activist Jan Sithole.

Mabuza has, on countless occasions, been seen supporting some of the prince’s charity initiatives.

The last time he did this was in August last year, when he donated 1 000 bags of rice to the Prince Majaha Foundation.

Prince Majaha was interviewed by our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY following a leaked video clip where he is seen sitting on a couch with the late Minister of Labour and Social Security, Makhosi Vilakati, discussing the death of Sithole.

Laughter

In the clip, the two (prince and Vilakati) burst into laughter before saying the deceased Sithole must rest in peace.

In the interview with our sister publication, the prince made it known that ‘he did not like anyone who was giving his dad a hard time’.

This publication sought Mabuza’s personal opinion on the utterances based on the fact that he was supportive of the prince’s charity initiatives, which made many conclude that they were friends.

He confirmed that indeed he supported the prince’s charity cause.

MP Mabuza confided that he got to know the prince through the deceased minister (Vilakati).

He said he (MP) and Makhosi were good friends and that he continued to respect him and his role as a minister.

Also, he mentioned that he was not a member of any political party, but his motto was to respect the views and beliefs of others even if he did not personally subscribe to them.

“As emaSwati, we have been raised to respect each other. And we expect the respect to come from bottom to the top and vice versa,” the MP said.

Secondly, he mentioned that emaSwati were also known to be people who respected the dead and showed support to families who lost their loved ones.

“Death is a time  when emaSwati show compassion to each other. They are not expected to mock those who have died to their families. So, following the utterances, I can say as much as I do not know how the prince and the late Jan crossed paths, I cannot support such comments. Culturally, families join each other in mourning. They show compassion and support,” he said.

Mabuza, who is also a businessman, said even if people had differences, it was important to respect each other’s views. He said he was not oblivious to the fact that the prince must have been exercising his own right, but that he needed to be cautious, especially where death was involved.

“So, as much as the prince can exercise his own right to freedom of expression, but the same Jan Sithole exercised his right as a human being on how he wanted to be ruled. So I do not think if I am voicing out my opinion and beliefs, I do not think that should create enmity,” he said. Mabuza said he was of the view that if the country’s leadership would allow such actions, then the country would lose all respect, especially that of being known as a peaceful nation.

“Makungayekelwa ngabe kuyasiphunyukela,” he said in vernacular.

Choices

He mentioned that there was nothing wrong with any liSwati expressing their choices on how they wanted to be led.

“So I can say that the prince should come out publicly and withdraw his words. Right now as emaSwati we are shocked that there could be someone saying such words during such painful and difficult times. We are losing loved ones, so no one can laugh or poke fun at that.

“I, myself as an MP, I am wondering what will happen to me if I die based on the fact that I have always questioned government in terms of accountability. How many people will come out and tell the whole world that they are happy I’m dead? If it has happened to Sithole, I worry about myself,” he stated.

Mabuza emphasised that he personally respected the prince, royal family, the leadership, but that he would never respect what he believed was wrong.

“So that is why I took a position to say that someone should come out and say sorry to the Eswatini nation,” he said.

Meanwhile,  Mabuza has had his own fair share of troubles ever since he joined the country’s political scene.

Last year, Mabuza was not only vocal during the debate of the controversial Cannabis Bill, but also had a tiff with Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, who at some point ended up kicking him out of the House of Assembly.

This was after the Speaker informed the House that Mabuza was not only disrespecting his position, but the entire House. 

The bone of contention was after he made yet another attempt to move a motion to disqualify seasoned politician and Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo.

As if that was not enough, in August last year, residents of Coates Valley in Manzini were treated to a spectacle as Mabuza was arrested by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS).

His arrest came after the issuance of a warrant for his apprehension for alleged obstruction.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: