BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Renowned Gospel Artist Thinah Zungu took to his Facebook account to express his happiness over an opportunity he was given to meet His Majesty King Mswati III.
Zungu met the king yesterday (Tuesday, October 28, 2024) during the Year-End Prayer Service, which was held at Mandvulo Grand Hall in Lozitha Palace. Zungu posted his picture, where he was shaking hands with the king.
He stated that his gift was the one that helped him meet people of higher status such as His Majesty the King. He said he was honoured to have been granted such an opportunity, thanking the king in the process. He then mentioned that the king told him that next time during his performance, he should bring along his son, with whom he used to perform.
In response to that command, Zungu said he would definitely do so, stating that when a king had spoken, no one was allowed to oppose. Zungu’s post, which had garnered over 550 comments by the time of compiling this article, was met with mixed feelings, with people expressing their feelings over the development. Among the commentators on Zungu’s post was fellow South African Gospel Artist Ayanda Ntanzi.
Ntanzi congratulated Zungu for having the opportunity to perform before the king. Ntanzi asked if Zungu had said, “Bayeetheee!! Wena Waphakathi.” In response, Zungu mentioned that he did make that pronouncement in his first line.
Other commentators expressed dissatisfaction towards Zungu for having agreed to perform in front of the king. The commentators told Zungu that many people complained about the king because he did not rule them the way they wanted to be ruled in this country. In response, Zungu told those commentators that what mattered to him was that he met the king, whom he described as a great man. He further pleaded not to be associated with political issues.
Others tried to reason with Zungu to make him believe that he had already been in politics by being in that environment. However, Zungu did not respond to these opinions. However, some commentators jumped into Zungu’s defence, stating that it was not fair for people like Zungu to be forced to talk politics when they decided not to do so.
According to these commentators, forcing people not to align with certain individuals was an act that was against the principles of democracy. Other South African commentators on the post even went as far stating that they also did not like some of the things done by their President Cyril Ramaphosa, but they did not force other people not to align with him. Other commentators from Eswatini mentioned that it was unfortunate that a certain group of people in the country wanted to force other individuals to agree with what they had to say. These people would swear at any individuals that did not agree with them.
