Following is a clarification issued by the Government Spokesman of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Percy N. Simelane on an article — ‘$46m jet plane gift from Kuwait, claims Dlamini’ — which appeared on Page 5 of the Arab Times dated May 1, 2012.

IN THE wake of erroneous media reports on the Mcdonell -DC-9 Aircraft given to His Majesty the King by the Kingdom’s Development Partners and  friends recently, in particular the Sunday Times of South Africa dated the 29th April 2012, we wish to once again present the  true position as follows:

• It is true that His Majesty the King received a gift in the form of a Mcdonnell DC-9 Aircraft for his and the Queen Mother’s travels abroad on engagement on national interest.
• It is also true that the sponsors of this magnificent gift, exercising their rights, elected to remain anonymous.
• It is not true that the Kuwait Government or countries and companies mentioned in the South Africa media purchased the aircraft for His Majesty the King or contributed in any form whatsoever towards this present.
• Kuwait as a friendly country is involved in infrastructural upliftment of the Kingdom such as the construction of Mbadlana/Sikhuphe Airport Road and the just commissioned Sports Centre at the Kwaluseni Campus of the University of Swaziland and not in the purchase of the Mcdonnell -DC-9 for the King.
• The Royal Household, Government and the People of Swaziland do not know and have nothing to do with the so-called Prince Omari Dlamini who has been quoted extensively by the South African media   as having said the aircraft is a gift from Kuwait.
• The fact that he has been referred to as son, nephew and grandchild of His Majesty the King in different South African media houses should have been enough for any normal thinking person to see that there is something wrong with him, let alone a newspaper editor.
• The quoted “Prince Omari” is actually not known to His Majesty the King of Swaziland nor is he known in the Royal family.
• We strongly feel that any reporter worth his/her salt should have known that “Prince Omari” may not represent the leadership or country position of the Kingdom of Swaziland because his existence is not known within the Royal Family neither is he a citizen or official here.