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MBABANE – The chief of Dlangeni and King’s liaison officer are alleged to have met in town at the Swazi Plaza and decided a land dispute matter in the absence of the parties involved.

The alleged conduct of Chief Nsukumbili and King’s liaison officer, according to Philip Nkambule (67), ‘took us by surprise’.

Nkambule said it was unheard of that a matter could be dealt with and a decision taken without one of the interested parties. He alleged that he was informed by the King’s liaison officer that he met the chief in town and they discussed the matter.

The King’s liaison officer, according to Nkambule, informed him that he would not deal with the matter any further because a decision had been taken with the chief.

The elderly man submitted that on June 27, 2022, he received an invitation from regional administrator for the Hhohho Region to appear on July 7, 2022, for the decision in the matter.

Adverse

“I appeared and the decision was issued. As it was an adverse decision, I then lodged an appeal with the Swazi National Court,” he submitted.

Nkambule told the court that at the Swazi National Court, he was informed that the parties involved would be notified about the date of hearing of the matter.

The land in question, according to Nkambule, belongs to his family. In his application to stop Thembumenzi Mamba and Dumisani Mathabela from carrying out construction work on the land, he lodged a complaint to the Inner Council of Dlangeni and the King’s liaison officer on July 13, 2021.

He said Mamba was called and directed to stop erecting a fence on the land and was summoned to the King’s liaison officer on July 20, 2021. Nkambule alleged that a letter was addressed to the headman stating that construction must stop as the matter was being dealt with.

The High Court heard Nkambule’s application yesterday and ordered, by consent of the parties, that Mamba and Mathabela should be interdicted from proceeding with the construction on the land pending determination of the matter in Swazi Law and Custom structures. Nkambule was represented by Wandile Maseko of Maseko Tsambokhulu Attorneys.