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EX-COMMANDER TURNED BACK AT ARMY DAY

06/04/2024 08:08:00 Sifiso Dlamini

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NOKWANE - Former Army Commander Jeffery Shabalala was turned back at the Army Day for wearing his full army uniform.

Shabalala was turned back at the main gate while travelling with his family, where he was informed that there was an order barring him from entering the army premises if he came wearing his uniform. However, that was not the case during the 2023 Army Day celebrations, where the former commander was granted entrance in his full army regalia.

He obeyed and later returned and took part in the event after he had changed his uniform into a suit. Shabalala served the country as a commander of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), where he was in charge of military operations, defence and intelligence, among his many duties. The former commander who was dully invited, came to the army event fully clad in his red army uniform, where he was forced to return home and change into a suit for him to be granted access to the event.

This was confirmed by Shabalala, who said he was forced to return home in Mbabane to change before he was allowed to enter. “Yes it is true that I was turned back and I had to return home to wear a suit, while the other former security forces chiefs were granted access. I was the only one who was turned back much to my surprise,” he said.

Explaination

Shabalala said he was not privy to the reason behind the action and was still waiting for an explanation from the army. He relayed that he was only informed that he should not enter unless he was wearing a suit. The former commander said he was inconvenienced by the incident because when he returned he found His Majesty the King halfway through his speech, much to his disappointment.

When asked on whether he was given a reason for the actions, he said it was best to drop the matter for now and wait for the official explanation from the army. Pertaining to questions on what had changed since the last army day, where he was granted access without a problem; Shabalala said the army would be in a better position to respond as he was also in the dark. He further confirmed that when he returned, he was allowed to enter and be part of the celebrations.

The army has, however, stated that they were not aware of the incident. When questioned on what informed the decision to turn back the former commander and whether this was an official decision from the army, UEDF Public Affairs Officer, 2nd Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo said the UEDF was not aware of the alleged incident.

Sources close to the matter also relayed that Shabalala was with his children when the incident happened. “He came to the event with his children wearing his red army uniform and he was turned back. He was informed that he had resigned from the army and he did not deserve to wear the uniform,” said the source. This publication gathered that there was an alleged command from the top brass that the former army commander should not be allowed to set foot in the army headquarters while in uniform.

Medals

Shabalala was informed that if he wanted to be part of the event, he should come wearing a suit but not an army uniform. It was shared that the former army commander adhered to the command and went to change and returned wearing a suit with all his medals pinned on and he was allowed to enter the army headquarters.

The source revealed that as much as Shabalala was caught off guard, he did not cause a scene but complied with the said order despite the fact that he was informed by junior officers, who said they had been given a direct order and had to execute it. The source further revealed that the former army commander was dully invited and had the invitation card.

However, the source revealed that they were not privy to the identity of the person who invited Shabalala.
Meanwhile, former Army Commander Sobantu Dlamini, who was fully clad in his uniform arrived at the event in a jolly mood in the company of former National Commissioner of Police and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Edgar Hillary. Of note, Shabalala resigned from the army on August 23, 2021. He announced his own resignation during a press conference held at the army headquarters at Nokwane.

Of note, two years after his resignation, the former army commander was appointed as FESBC head of safety and security, which raised eyebrows and a lot of questions on whether retired army personnel needed clearance to be part of such an organisation.

The Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) is a private sector employer organisation, which coordinates cooperation between business, government and the international community. His appointment came at a time when the federation was embroiled in a dispute with a number of large companies in the country over alleged unfair business practices.

In a previous interview with our sister publication the Times of Eswatini, Shabalala said he was still a soldier and he did not need clearance from any structure to undertake his duties as head of FESBC’s safety and security portfolio. He said a soldier does not retire. When asked if there was no conflict of interest between his former army commander assignment and his current work with FESBC, his response was that there was no conflict at all, as this was more of a continuation of State security duties, as a soldier does not retire.

On the question of his allegiance to the traditional structure (libutfo) which is mandatory for soldiers, he said he also did not need any clearance from that end. Tshabalala said his new duties were in line with his business affiliation with FESBC and had nothing to do with any other structures. “It is not our protocol as libutfo to get approvals for business assignments,” he said.

On his security duties, Tshabalala said he was responsible for the coordination of the use of guns within FESBC.
Asked where the guns would come from, Tshabalala said most FESBC members had firearm licences, and that his role would be to merely coordinate the use of such weapons. “Most businesspeople have licences to own firearms and it’s not strange, except that now they are to be coordinated, under the FESBC safety and security portfolio,” he said.