Africa-Press – Eswatini. Themba Khumalo,the Managing Director of the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation(EPTC) allegedly colluded with Ezulwini Indvuna Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo to secretly sell land worth over R10million belonging to the State owned company.
An independent investigation uncovered that, the land has been allegedly sold to Ludzidzini Council member Ncumbi Maziya “who wants to utilize it for commercial purposes”, it’s part of the prime area within the Ezulwini central EPTC Earth Station known as “Satellite”.
The sold land is part of the property where employees of the State owned company are accommodated, about five hundred(500)metres away from Corner Plaza and, a few meters away Ezulwini Bethel Court Hotel owned by Senate President Lindiwe Gwebu-Dlamini.
It is alleged that, the Ludzidzini Council member abused his proximity to Mswati, an absolute Monarch, and subsequently used the Monarch’s name when facilitating the land deal for personal gain.
Ezulwini Indvuna Sifiso Khumalo who doubles as the Attorney General(AG) subsequently instructed his Inner Council(Bandlancane) to approach EPTC saying uMphakatsi was taking back all unused land.
Reached for comments, Themba Khumalo, the Eswatini Telecoms Managing Director denied colluding with Indvuna Sifiso Khumalo to sell the EPTC land to the Ludzidzini Council member,he said it was uMphakatsi’s decision.
“The land is on Swazi Nation Land and the uMphakatsi wanted all the unused land over the last 40 years returned as SPTC wakhonta. We appealed and only a quarter of land was then taken back under a mutual compromise. Umphakatsi took it back,” said the EPTC Managing Director.
When asked why Ludzidzini Council member Ncumbi Maziya was then seen busy working the land, the EPTC Managing Director said, Ncumbi Maziya was just partitioning the returned property.
“Umphakatsi I believe contracted Maziya for partitioning the property returned”,said the MD who further disclosed that, some high profile were ‘hot on his heels’ seeking to tarnish his reputation, accusing him of wrongdoing after he introduced restructuring within the State owned company.
Efforts to reach Indvuna Sifiso Khumalo for a comment proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report while Ludzidzini Council member Ncumbi Maziya declined to comment.
But a senior Government official within the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology(ICT) confirmed knowledge of the matter but clarifiedf that, the information was coming or emerging in bits and pieces.
“Now that you are also enquiring about it, it means it’s true. You can go ahead, investigate further and report, definitely Parliament will take it up because such information started circulating there and I wasn’t sure about it until you contacted me,” said the senior Government official whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons.
Efforts to reach Information Minister Savannah Maziya proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday evening, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi described the transaction as a clear act of corruption adding that, in terms of Customary Law, uMphakatsi cannot just grab the land particularly from a State owned company.
“It’s an act of corruption that is ongoing in the country.In terms of Customary Law, uMphakatsi cannot just grab the land but, in this case it would have been the State company that decided to surrender the land through kuvalelisa eNdlunkhulu if the land was unused. The Ministry of ICT particularly the Minister, should have been made aware of this transaction and if she is not aware and, nothing was reported to her or the Ministry then, it’s a well orchestrated corruption,” said the lawyer.
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