What role TV played in Luyengweni dispute - Stan
MBABANE - Residents of Luyengweni have relayed how they got to be under Luyengweni Royal Kraal.
The residents stated that they paid allegiance to the then Zombodze Chief, Mandanda Mtetwa, before they converted to Luyengweni Royal Kraal. “We paid allegiance to Chief Mandanda Mtetwa and Indvuna Mbutfo Makhubu, before Chief Dutshwa Dlamini took over at Luyengweni Royal Kraal. Indlovukazi Dzeliwe wrote a letter, stating that the newly-installed Chief Dutshwa should take over the areas that were under Chief Mandanda Mtetwa at Luyengweni. Mhlabubovu residents decided to fall under Chief Dutshwa, because they were also under Chief Mandanda and Indvuna Mbutfo Makhubu,” said Stan Motsa who is a member of the Motsa clan.
Stan stated that after the death of Chief Mandanda, his successor Timothy Velabo Mtetwa arrived at Mhlabubovu with residents of LaMgabhi and police officers. Motsa alleged that Timothy allocated a homestead on a field belonging to the Motsa clan.
It is said that Timothy allegedly allocated the homestead across the boundary separating the two chiefdoms, despite King Sobhuza II’s letter declaring that Mhlabubovu was outside the jurisdiction of LaMgabhi Royal Kraal. It is alleged that Timothy brought all the subjects of his father to Chief Dutshwa, as directed by Indlovukazi Dzeliwe.
Stan mentioned that Timothy declared that he delayed the handover until he was commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III.
In 1991, Stan stated that a council led by Chief Mngayi Fakudze arrived at Mhlabubovu. He said among the council was Timothy, who came along with a certain man he later identified as Mdengenduku Simelane.
He said the residents of Mhlabubovu only learnt about the council’s visit through the media.
Informed
“In that meeting, Indvuna Mngayi Fakudze stated that Timothy, who was in the company of Simelane, had informed him that the Mhlabobovu area fell under the jurisdiction of LaMgabhi Royal Kraal. At the time, there was Chief Mphini, who succeeded Chief Ndzimanye. Fakudze mentioned that Timothy would be the first to speak, followed by Simelane,” he said.
Stan stated that Timothy allegedly told the meeting that he had found the truth about Mhlabubovu from Simelane, whom he then allowed to address the residents.
“Simelane told the meeting that as he served under the then Chief Mandanda Mtetwa, the chief told him that Mhlabubovu fell under the jurisdiction of LaMgabhi Royal Kraal. Simelane stated that Chief Mandanda told him that Hulumeni Motsa was allocated a portion of land to build a house. Simelane further told the residents from the two chiefdoms that Luyengweni and LaMgabhi were separated by a tree on top of a mountain, facing rocks, across the Lusutfu River at Nhlengenhlenge,” he said.
Stan went on to say that Simelane ought to have told the residents about the demarcation line, which resulted from a fight between the two factions.
He stated that Simelane was supposed to have told the residents about the contents of the letter that was written by King Sobhuza on November 11, 1947, if he served with Chief Mandanda.
“We wanted to ask Timothy if he never saw the King’s letter, when he said he learnt about the truth from Simelane a week before the meeting. However, Timothy stood up and informed the residents that nobody was allowed to say anything as the meeting was closed. He told Fakudze not to allow anyone to say anything concerning what had been said,” Stan claimed.
He added that they also wanted to ask Timothy if he verified Simelane’s facts as he had the King’s letter of 1947.
Stan stated that they also wanted to ask Timothy how he arrived at evicting Gongo Motsa, before allocating a homestead on his fields in 1986.
He claimed the failure by Timothy to entertain the questions, resulted in some residents leaving the meeting.
Arresting
He said police officers did not bother stopping or arresting anyone, despite being told to do so by Fakudze.
Stan said the residents of Mhlabubovu required answers on how Timothy decided to leave them out of the meeting, yet he was the one who introduced them to Chief Dutshwa, when he took over as chief of Luyengweni. He said what was worrying was that Timothy claimed to have been mandated by His Majesty King Mswati III to bring all the subjects of his father to the new chief of Eluyengweni.
In 1996, Stan stated that they were shocked to learn about an affidavit, where Timothy handed over the residents of Mhlabubovu to Chief Mphini, whose other name was Mgafela Dlamini under LaMgabhi Royal Kraal. “All we know is that the King cannot delegate anyone to make such changes. The King cannot send someone to change chiefs or subjects.”