By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini announced the appointment of the new National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS(NERCHA) Board, a State entity under his Office.
Perhaps, let me congratulate King Mswati’s Legal Advisor Ntsika Fakudze and the other Board members for the appointment and, further urged them to uphold corporate governance principles in the interest of the country.
I am saying this because Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini sometimes takes decisions that might mess-up the entire Government operational system, he once suggested that drugs must be procured by NERCHA while we have a Ministry of Health in this country.
The process of transforming the Central Medical Stores(CMS) into a State entity under the Ministry of Health must be supported, NERCHA must focus on issues of HIV/AIDS as per the objective behind the establishment of the Council.
As a lawyer, King’s Legal Advisor Ntsika Fakudze must tell the Prime Minister that it’s not possible in terms of the law, to just close the CMS and then direct NERCHA to procure drugs.
When it comes to the issue of the health crisis, we must never compromise the truth and, we have an obligation to put the interest of the public or the country first not our personal interests otherwise emaSwati will perish.
As the leader of the Government or Cabinet, the Prime Minister must take decisions or a position on a particular matter after wide consultations and based on a Cabinet consensus.
Indeed, the PM must also listen to the other Ministers who oppose his decision but, at the same time, be careful of Cabinet Ministers who oppose him with hidden personal agendas or financial interests on such issues.
In fact, the Prime Minister must communicate Cabinet resolutions not his personal opinions on such critical issues touching on people’s lives, NERCHA must not be allowed to procure drugs.
We have a Ministry of Health in this country, the proposed State owned CMS will assist in ensuring that drugs are procured and accounted for, proper accountability monitoring systems will also assist in this regard.
Ntsika Fakudze, as an educated lawyer working with the Head of State must tell the Prime Minister the truth and by doing, he will be helping and assisting him to become a better leader.
The Prime Minister needs people who will tell him the truth even if it doesn’t go down well with him so that, he can take informed decisions.
NERCHA was established through an Act of Parliament, the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS Act, 2003 to fight HIV/AIDS and therefore, the PM cannot just direct the owned State entity to procure drugs without amending the law and, without involving Cabinet, the Office of the Attorney General(AG) and Parliament in the process of amending the law.
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