By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Word was going around within the corridors of power, suggesting that King Mswati wants Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo’s contract renewed,King’s Private Secretary Mbongeni Simelane and others who were supporting Nxumalo within the King’s Office cemented this false narrative by including him in the King’s international trips.

It should be noted that, by including Nxumalo in the King’s international trips towards the end of his contract, they were systematically trying to communicate a message “suggesting that, Mswati wants Alpheous Nxumalo to continue working as a Government Spokesperson”.

Well, even if the King was in support of Nxumalo and eager to re-engage him, the outgoing Government Spokesperson should have remembered that, in our culture “Inkhosi ayihlali lapho kuneliphunga khona”, he was supposed to preserve his integrity as a Spokesperson for the State.

But alas, even after being released on bail by Judge Mumcy Dlamini, outgoing Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo did not demonstrate any remorseful behavior instead, he declared that he was ready to continue with his duties as a Government Press Secretary.

In most instances, high profile suspects who faced similar rape charges would hold press conferences and apologize to the Nation.

The apology does not mean, the suspect is guilty” but, a demonstration of respect to the Nation, sive siyahlonishwa, uma wenta umsebenti wesive sekuneliphunga lelinjena uyaye utigicite ucolise utsi “lalani etukwami BakaNgwane licala lembula ingubo lingene”, bese utsi “sengtawuhlengwa tinkantolo ngicolisela leliphunga nje lelingilandzelako”.

But this man when addressing journalists at the High Court this week, demonstrated arrogance, there was no way he could have continued with his position as a Government Spokesperson because as the independent media, “we will continue referring to him as an alleged serial rapist” and Tinkhundla don’t want that embarrassment”.

It took almost twenty(20) years for King Mswati to re-consider his brother Prince Mbuyisa for appointment after the rape allegations against him.

The outgoing Government Spokesperson who has been forced to go on leave a few days before the expiry of his contract of employment, “was literally dreaming when suggesting that, he is fit for another contract”.

Nxumalo is now a political outcast but at least, some of us warned him at the peak of his career, being a Government Spokesperson requires the highest level of integrity.

But Alpheous Nxumalo was given a platform by the media to address the Nation, instead of communicating with the public in a very respectful manner, he became arrogant.

In this world you can dine with the King, be famous and powerful kodvwa nawungahloniphi sive you will definitely fall, kwayona leNkhosi yaphuma ngesemagundwane sive sifuna kuyisusa esihlalweni.

In our culture, we normally say “kute umgcoma wekulahla umuntfu” and that’s why even dangerous criminals are allowed to have visitors in prison in terms of international law, Nxumalo did nothing wrong by defending Government, that was part of his job description.

But the rape allegations are so serious such that, Nxumalo was supposed to demonstrate respect to the Nation, my grandmother Inkhosikati LaMndzebele used to say “letinye tintfo utawutibona ungatala” and as a father of two(2) beautiful daughters, I fully understand what the father of the victims is going through, only for Alpheous Nxumalo to speak with arrogance.

But in this article, I was intending to thank King Mswati for distancing himself in this matter and allow the law to take its course, rape is a serious offense and, the police must be capacitated to investigate such cases.

As for Alpheous Nxumalo who has been declaring undying love for the Monarchy, he must know that, the institution of the Monarchy is and, should not be a hiding spot for alleged serial rapists.

It is in this regard that some of us wants the Monarchy to exist outside politics and under a democratic Government because as the situation stands, even corrupt politicians and alleged serial rapists like Alpheous Nxumalo had found ‘refugee’ under the wings of the Monarchy only to be retrieved by the law arm of the law.