Africa-Press – Eswatini. Serious allegations of maladministration have been raised against the Eswatini Multi-purpose Co-operative Union (ESWAMCU).
Three co-operative societies have written letters to the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, seeking his office’s intervention in the serious alleged maladministration in the office of ESWAMCU. ESWAFCU is an apex body representing all farming and multi-purpose co-operatives in Eswatini to improve their access to inputs, equipment, markets and technical information. The organisation was officially formed and registered on September 8, 2006. Currently the subsidy run by ESWAMCU is benefitting the board members, staff and 13 primary societies. The co-operatives that have approached the minister through the letters are Siphamandla Multipurpose Co-operative society, Eswatini Fruits and Vegetables Multipurpose Cooperative and Zinyane Multipurpose Co-operative.
Concerns
The leaders of the societies confirmed to have written the letters and handed them over to the said ministry and they were waiting for responses and most importantly actions towards their concerns. The societies have alleged to have not benefitted anything from being a member of ESWAMCU. “We are therefore of the view that our membership is for bargaining purposes only,” read the letters. The societies alleged that despite the existence of the Co-operative Act and support structures, the operations were being conducted in violation of the Act and in an unprofessional manner. One of the allegations raised in the letters was that one of the executive members of ESWAMCU reportedly helped himself to an amount of E72 000. They alleged that disciplinary actions had not been taken against this member. The name of the member is withheld, pending a formal meeting with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade officials. Mfomfo Nkambule of Siphamandla Multipurpose Co-operative society said they were very disappointed by the conduct of the union, which was supposed to help emaSwati, but it was not the case. Nkambule said there was an audit conducted against the union worth millions and indeed it was found that there was a lot wrong in the union.
Expense
He alleged that the union was a milk cow, where everyone was helping themselves in the expense of the poor emaSwati. In their letter, Nkambule’s co-operative, appealed to the minister to look at dissolution of the Board of ESWAMCU and putting an interim Board until the union’s alleged irregularities matter was dealt with, once and for all. Siphamandla Multipurpose Co-operative society suggested that “the interim board should further put in place a;
i. Finance policy for the organisation to avoid creating a fertile ground for corrupt practices and kickbacks.
ii. Follow up the recommendations by the auditor in his letter to the management committee
iii. Forensic audit by a reputable company from 2021 on the finances of the union and distribution of its proceeds and other pertinent issues.”
The letters all dated December 13, 2023, were delivered to the Commissioner of Co-operatives in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Bongani Maziya, for the attention of the minister. Maziya confirmed having received the letters and stated that they were working on the issues tabled by the co-operatives and would definitely take appropriate actions after investigations have been conducted. Maziya stated that they were still going to have a meeting with the minister and all the parties involved in the matter. He stated that they intended to deal with the issues immediately after the letters were delivered, but unfortunately it was just about the festive season, where everyone had taken a break. The commissioner said the concerns raised by the co-operatives came just when his office had also identified some irregularities within the union. He said they were already disciplinary measures in place, however, he could not divulge much on them, as the matter was still under vigorous discussions.
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