By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:King Mswati, an absolute Monarch, allegedly received R10billion($500million) after signing an agreement with the United States(US) Government seeking to detain dangerous criminals in the tiny Kingdom of eSwatini, The Independent reported this week, quoting the New York Times.

But the multibillion agreement that undermines State and regional security, was signed by the absolute Monarch through his Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, King Mswati is above the law in eSwatini hence Parliament, Cabinet and the Office of Attorney General(AG) was allegedly not involved or consulted before the signing of the agreement.

It has been reported that, after signing the agreement, the US President Donald Trump administration resumed a policy of deporting or dumping immigrant detainees to eSwatini.

It is alleged that, the eSwatini Government at one point requested more millions of dollars to accept more criminals, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times.

The documents further suggest that, eSwatini was open to detaining one hundred and fifty(150) people from other Nations for more than $10million from the United States, the newspaper reported.

When asked by this Swaziland News earlier, King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane previously denied that, the King was involved in the signing of the agreement between the US and the eSwatini Government.

But now, information emerging through the international media particularly The New York Times suggests that, the King was fully aware and that, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso couldn’t have signed the agreement involving R10billion and thretening State security without informing the King.

Eswatini Government previously released a statement, clarifying that, the criminals will eventually be repatriated to their respective countries but according to the documents seen by the New York Times, the criminals will be detained in eSwatini for a longer period of time.

Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli previously released a statement clarifying the deportations, she said such “agreements are done with meticulous care” and consideration.

“The Kingdom of Eswatini and the United States of America have enjoyed fruitful bilateral relations spanning over five decades. As such, every agreement entered into is done with meticulous care and consideration, putting the interests of both Nations at the forefront”, reads the Government statement in part.

But South African Foreign and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola through the Spokesperson of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation(DIRCO) Chrispin Phiri, released a statement earlier saying, he noted the statement by Eswatini and the US, in which they indicated they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin.

But the South African Foreign Minister expressed serious concerns regarding the under threat regional security amid concerns suggesting that, the criminals might escape to the neighboring countries within Southern African Development Community(SADC) region.

“While respecting the sovereign decision of the government of Eswatini, the government of SA is deeply concerned about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on SA’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries, said the DIRCO Spokesperson.

It has been disclosed that, King Mswati concluded the deal with the US using his Prime Minister, even Cabinet and the Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Khumalo was sidelined.

Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch, his word automatically becomes the law and as a result, even Parliament is not allowed to question his decision or challenge his authority.