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DLALISILE: I STAND BY MY WORDS

01/12/2021 09:02:00 BY SIBUSISO SHANGE

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MBABANE - “I stand by my words and nothing has changed.”

This was said by Princess Dlalisile in relation to a statement issued by some princesses and princes who are daughters and sons of King Sobhuza II. Some children of King Sobhuza II, on Monday, held a press conference at Ludzidzini Royal Residence, where they unanimously disassociated themselves from certain statements attributed to them.

The 14 children of King Sobhuza II present at the press conference made it clear that the statement was aimed at setting the record straight, following some statements they termed unpalatable and recorded video clips, which were making the rounds on social media platforms. The princes and princesses started by reiterating His Majesty King Mswati III’s message of condolences to the nation and families of those who were negatively impacted during the unfortunate nationwide upheavals, which occurred in June and July, 2021.

Protests

A report that was issued by the Human Rights Commission a few months after the protests pointed out that 291 people were shot in a space of two days (June 29 and 30, 2021). The report further stated that 46 civilians died from the shootings. The children of King Sobhuza II made it clear that they were in total support of His Majesty King Mswati III as they all embraced one position; that he was appointed by God. “We also stand entirely behind the national engagement which the King has announced to take place at Sibaya (People’s Parliament) after the annual Incwala Ceremony. As princes and princesses, we condemn in the strongest possible terms, all derogatory statements directed to His Majesty the King,” said Princess Tsandzile on behalf of the princes and princesses.

Faceless

It should be noted that faceless voice notes, where insults and derogatory statements were made against the King, had been circulated on social media.
The people behind the voice clips claimed to be children of King Sobhuza II. One impersonator made a Sibaya announcement a few days after Mbekelweni Indvuna Themba Ginindza had made the announcement on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III. The impersonator claimed to be making the announcement on behalf of King Sobhuza II’s children in the name of Senior Prince Masitsela. He insulted the King and Ginindza for the recent Sibaya announcement.

When informed about the fake Sibaya announcement and the startling allegations about the senior prince, King’s Office Director of Communications Percy Simelane said the last time they met Prince Masitsela, he was sane enough not to be part of lunacy. Simelane said there was no way the senior prince would have sent anyone to spew bile in the face of the royal family. Simelane added that the King was mature enough to remain above insults and political storms. Worth noting is that fake video clips have been rife since the beginning of the political unrest in the country.

Circulated

Another video clip from Princess Dlalisile’s WhatsApp status circulated on Facebook. The princess also had a telephone interview with Swaziland News, where she addressed a few issues about the country. Worth noting is that Princess Dlalisile sometimes used the phrase ‘as children of King Sobhuza’ in her responses. The princess was sought for clarity following the issuance of the statement by the princes and princesses.

However, when asked about the use of the phrase ‘as children of King Sobhuza’, she stated that she spoke in her capacity as Princess Dlalisile, not on behalf of King Sobhuza II’s children. She was also asked if she aligned herself with what the princes and princesses said in the recent statement at Ludzidzini. In response, Princess Dlalisile made it clear that her position had not changed. She stated that she made herself clear in the audio and video clip which were later circulated on social media. “I made myself clear in the video and audio clip and nothing has changed. I was speaking in my personal capacity, not on behalf of King Sobhuza II’s children,” she said.

When asked to share the video and voice clips, she said the material was available on social media. Princess Dlalisile was speaking through an unidentified woman who answered her cellphone. The woman requested to pass the message to the princess before she could respond. The princess then responded through the woman in less than five minutes. In her interview with the online publication, the princess had raised her concerns in the manner in which she felt the country was being governed, stating that she had noted a lot of changes compared to the time of King Sobhuza II.

Allegations

She was asked about the allegations to the effect that children of His Majesty King Mswati III were involved in the decision-making. Without giving a direct response, the princess stated that she was not in a position to talk about the changes she was referring to as she knew what happened during the reign of King Sobhuza II. She also stated that the issue was beyond her jurisdiction. “I have never seen a King who rules a country with his children. I was made to believe that a King should work with his brothers,” she said in her interview with the online publication.

The princess also expressed her concern about the people who died during the two-day protests across the country. She said she was not at all pleased by the deaths of civilians. However, she said it was unfortunate that she had no way to control it. Princess Dlalisile stated that the civilians were not supposed to die in the manner they did, no matter how they had sinned. Worth noting was that the princess had been asked how children of King Sobhuza II felt about the killing of civilians.

Disturbing

The princess added that it was disturbing that some people had the perception that as children of King Sobhuza II, they had everything yet she was struggling, along with her children. The princess said she had her own children and grandchildren who were unemployed yet she was a member of royalty.
She alleged that the most unfortunate thing was that there were illegitimate children who benefited in the name of their children.

“Lokubuhlungu kutsi lamavezandlebe ayatiwa kutsi ngemavezandlebe kepha atsatsa indzawo yebantfwabetfu sibenkhosi Sobhuza wesibili. Nyalo ngifuna kukhipha konkhe lengikwatiko,” she alleged in vernacular loosely translating to: “The unfortunate thing is that the illegitimate children I am talking about are known but they are benefiting from what is due to our children. I want to say all that I know.”

Worth noting was that the princess sounded as if she suspected that her conversation with Dlamini might invite her trouble. She asked Dlamini about the possible threat and further asked him if he would provide for her children if she got into trouble. The princess further made it known that she found it important that the will of the people should be respected as political reforms were needed. She further stated that she was angry that she lived a difficult life yet she was a member of royalty and added that her mother played a vital role in the preservation of the present regime.

In an earlier interview, Princess Dlalisile stated that the contents contained in the clip were true and factual. She mentioned that all she was trying to do was to make people aware that things were not actually the way they perceived them to be. She said some people had the notion that as children of King Sobhuza II, they could help them find jobs yet their children were also struggling to find jobs. “Ey, kuyahlupha lokwenteka eveni la Jehova, bantfu nje bati kutsi sidla konkhe, kute lesikweswele loku ngihlupheke kanjena nebantfwabami. Kodvwa ukhandza kutsi emavezandlebe latiwa kahle kutsi ngemavezandlebe atsatsa indzawo yebantfwabetfu. Nyalo ngifuna kukhipha konkhe lengikwatiko,” the princess alleged in vernacular. The princess was asked who exactly she was referring to as illegitimate children. In response, she said she meant some of their children, not her brothers. The princess went on to state that her life was so difficult that she survived through shylocks to provide for her family, which consisted of unemployed children and grandchildren.