Rev’s advice to Their Majesties
LOBAMBA- Reverend Sabelo Sibandze has advised His Majesty King Mswati III and the Queen Mother not to fight back and fear nothing, for God will fight for them.
Sibandze was speaking in relation to the prevailing situation in the country during the Somhlolo National Festival of Praise prayer service held at the National Church at Nkhanini in Lobamba yesterday.
The advice was contained in Sibandze’s few remarks before he prayed for the country’s authorities on behalf of the President of the League of Churches Bishop Samson Hlatjwako.
“Ngwenyama nawe Ndlovu yemhlaba, kulesimo lesi hlalani nithule ningalwi, Simakadze utanilwe
la,” Sibandze said in vernacular, loosely translated to mean: “Your Majesty and the Queen Mother, remain silent and don’t fight back, for God will fight for you under the prevailing situation.”
Sibandze went on to quote the Bible in the book Exodus 13: 14 where it reads: “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”
Noted was that many speakers sought God’s deliverance in relation to the recent political unrest which culminated in vandalism, looting and burning of properties causing traumatic stress to civilians. The protests were staged by some emaSwati who affiliate to political parties after government suspended the delivery of petitions to tinkhundla centres.
Petition
When suspending the delivery of the petitions, government said its decision was informed by the increasing cases of COVID- 19 new infections as the country entered the third wave.
The speakers asked for God’s salvation so that emaSwati, especially children, could heal from the traumatic experience.
Reverend Dennis Shongwe, who prayed for the healing of the land, highlighted the need to heal children from the traumatic experience during the recent unrest which took place while some had just lost their parents and relatives due to COVID- 19.
Reverend Canon Magongo, who made the vote of thanks at the event, requested that the nation prayed for the looted, vandalised and burnt businesses. Magongo encouraged the nation to put their trust in God as they prayed for the recovery of the businesses. He mentioned that the businesses were looted, vandalised and burnt while the country was in the process of reviving its economy.
“Let’s pray so that even those who have given up on their businesses should have strength to revive them. Let’s pray for more investors for economic recovery,” he said. As things stand, the country is on the verge of rebuilding the burnt and vandalised businesses through the Reconstruction Fund which was announced by the King during the recent Sibaya. He said government would contribute E500 000 to the fund.
When announcing the fund, the King urged emaSwati to lend a helping hand as the cost of the damage was estimated to E3 billion.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s service was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Jabulani ‘ Buy Cash’ Mabuza, whose hardware stores were vandalised, looted and burnt down across the country. Mabuza was representing Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini at the event. The King was represented by Prince Mguciso, who attended along with some members of the royal family.
On another note, Magongo thanked Their Majesties for allowing the nation to commemorate the significant day in the history of Eswatini. During the Somhlolo Festival of Praise, emaSwati commemorate the day when missionaries appeared to King Somhlolo carrying the Bible and money in a dream. According to history, the missionaries advised, the King to choose the Bible over the money. It is believed that the King chose the Bible as advised, resulting in the country relying on prayer.