26/01/2026
REVEALED: Defense and State Security Principal Secretary (PS) vigorously working towards uniting Army Executive Command as relationship with Commander worsens.
BY ZWELI MARTIN DLAMINI
Swaziland News,26th January 2026
MBABANE: Prince Sicalo, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Defense and State Security is now regarded as the uniting figure within the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF) amid a breakdown in the administration of the military under Army Commander Moses Mashikilisane Fakudze.
The tension escalated after the Army Commander allegedly unleashed armed soldiers from the Military Police Wing to attack Brigadier Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini, other senior soldiers sympathized with Dlamini while others sided with the Army Commander.
But soon thereafter, the Army Commander allegedly undermined the authority of PS Prince Sicalo who was trying to resolve the management crisis within the Army saying “ngeke mine ngitjelwe ngumfana mine”.
It has been disclosed that, Principal Secretary Prince Sicalo has been vigorously uniting the Executive Command, urging some senior soldiers to remain loyal to the King and the country during this difficult time within the Army while promising that, the King was taking time to address the challenges because “he wants to be sure what is really happening”.
Army Spokesperson Major Sandile Gwebu declined to comment regarding the breakdown in the administration of the Army.
But a senior soldier told this Swaziland News this week that, there’s serious action within the Army these days, the soldier asked this journalist not to publish details as this might undermine the King’s efforts to address the administration crisis.
”I remember you telling me that, the King might not rush to take action because Army issues are sensitive, he must be sure before taking a decision. It seems you were right, UmntfwaneNkhosi Sicalo usicele kutsi sibeketele, kona akusebenteki mani, the Army Commander divided the Army with his corruption such that, some were even starting to question why the King was so quiet,” said the senior soldier.
On another note, the Army Commander was previously exposed by this publication for allegedly looting about R20million monies belonging to soldiers and subsequently closed the Burial Fund that was assisting soldiers with “imali yekulila” amounting to twelve thousand Rands(R12,000.00) when visiting families to mourn the death of another soldier.
But apart from that, the Commander Fakudze has been receiving five thousand Rands(R5,000.00) per-week as “litiya la-Commander” from Hlalawati, a Saving and Cooperative Fund belonging to soldiers, the looted monies since Fakudze took over as the Army Commander, amount to about R1million.
http://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=11226
