By Zweli Martin Dlamini

After we exposed the plight of Mafucula residents whose Mafucula Mnyangombili(PTY) LTD sugar project was grabbed by BatfwabeNkhosi, Banele Nyamane, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Eswatini Sugar Association(ESA) contacted me around 04 August 2023, promising to resolve the matter.

But as you read this, the CEO hasn’t contacted me and the residents of Mafucula are consistently contacting me appealing for help.

The tendency of oppressing the people and grabbing anything that seeks to liberate them from poverty is a serious problem in this country that needs a solution as a matter of urgency.

Who will blame the aggrieved residents if they can contact and inform me that they have burnt the sugarcane trucks in frustration, why is it difficult in this country to listen and respect the people?.

I am writing this article for the attention of the European Union(EU) that partly funded the project, the residents are frustrated and living in poverty while these so-called BatfwabeNkhosi of Mafucula are enjoying profits from the project that was established by the residents.

It is very unfortunate that, in this country, if you are not connected to royalty, those in power can just grab your project with impunity.

Yesterday(Saturday), BatfwabeNkhosi of KaShewula were at Mafucula to announce the appointment of the Chief, they dismissed the Indvuna yeMphakatsi who was supporting the residents by filing an affidavit in court, confirming that they were eligible to benefit from the sugar-cane project.

The courts are also failing to assist the residents because the matter involves royal family members with traditional power, Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala has been evasive, this is absolute ‘nonsense’, 

The EU must intervene in this matter that is, if the intention was to assist the residents to fight poverty.

But let me emphasize that, the so called BatfwaBeNkhosi must search for employment to earn a living not to use power to grab what does not belong to them.