An imposter who for years allegedly paraded as Swaziland’s King Mswati III in suburbs of the town of Manzini, collecting thousands of dollars under false pretences, has been arrested, police said on Thursday.
The man, who led a lavish life with a full complement of bodyguards, dressed exactly like the small African kingdom’s absolute monarch and drove around in cars bearing the national coat of arms and the country’s flag.
According to the police, the man called himself Prince Makhosemvelo Dlamini, a name that has a phonetic resemblance to Mswati’s original name, Makhosetive Dlamini.
His real name, police said, was Jabulani Tsabedze, and his wife, guarded by female security people, was referred to as Inkhosikhati, a title reserved for Mswati’s wives.
According to documents at the Manzini magistrate court, Tsabedze received thousands of dollars as allegiance fees and promises that they would be given favours by Swaziland’s royal family.
Some gave him cows and goats as presents in the same fashion as Mswati.
From the money paid out to him, Tsabedze allegedly built a three-storey mansion on the outskirts of Manzini, a factor that supported his claim to royalty.
Chief detective Jomo Mavuso said the police had been alerted over Tsabedze’s activities by members of the public who had been promised royal favours which were not forthcoming.
”We paid him a visit and were shocked to find tight security made up of people who appeared to have been brainwashed to believe that he was King Mswati,” Mavuso said.
He said Tsabedze accompanied them to the police station, followed by his bodyguards.
”When we got to the police station, the bodyguards shouted at us to release their king, saying that we would be punished for what we were doing,” Mavuso said.
Tsabedze has been charged with seven counts of obtaining money under false pretences, impersonation and theft. – Sapa-DPA