By Zweli Martin Dlamini

It is clear now that, former Public Works and Transport Minister Ntuntuko Dlamini will receive a royal parole after killing breadwinners in a dramatic land dispute at LaMgabhi eBhunya, allowing him to attend Incwala ceremony is a strategic move to release him.

But there’s more in all this, King Mswati wants to boost Incwala numbers with an alleged intention to send a message to his critics and the international community that, emaSwati love and support the Monarchy.

Releasing criminals to attend Incwala ceremony does not only endanger the public but, undermines the principles of the rule of law in that, it demonstrates royalty’s superiority over legal structures established to rehabilitate offenders as part of efforts regulate human conduct and promote a just society.

Indeed, attending Incwala cannot be justified as part of the Correctional Services legal mandate to rehabilitate offenders, Incwala is a ritual ceremony for the ruling Dlamini royal family not Eswatini culture.

It is therefore absurd for the Correctional Services to justify releasing Ntuntuko Dlamini to attend his royal family ritual ceremony as part of helping inmates connect with culture.

Well, I have read the press statement released by the Correctional Services but I am afraid to say “it amounts to a piece of nonsense”.

In this country, we are made to accept even wrong decisions that undermine the law for as long as those decisions advance the interests of those in power particularly, the Monarchy.

Former Cabinet Minister Ntuntuko Dlamini acted recklessly when killing men in a dramatic land dispute, we are related in this country and therefore, even if we can disagree, that does not mean others must die in land disputes.

It is therefore important for King Mswati not to be seen turning his Incwala ritual ceremony into a ceremony of criminals, Ntuntuko Dlamini is a convicted criminal and/or a murderer.

In siSwati “bonkhe bantfu beNkhosi” meaning the King is the leader of all emaSwati, how will the families of the deceased perceive the royal family after seeing Ntuthuko Dlamini dancing during the ongoing Incwala ceremony?.

Ntuntuko Dlamini’s family is closely linked to the royal family, they own huge land at LaMgabhi eBhunya but the question it, was Dlamini justified to just shoot and kill other emaSwati over land?.

I strongly believe he was supposed to find other alternative ways to deal with those grabbing his family’s land not to kill other emaSwati, land dispute will always be there but, ‘umphefumulo wemuntfu’ is more important than land.