Africa-Press – Eswatini. The former president of the National Cooperatives Federation of Eswatini (NCFE) was suspended for allegations of misconduct.
The former official was suspended in November 2022, and his suspension was announced by Chairperson of the NCFE’s Audit and Supervisory Committee Nomsa Sukati when delivering the committee’s report for a period between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The report was delivered during the federation’s annual general meeting (AGM) held at The George Hotel on Wednesday.
The NCFE, also known as Ingcongwane Yelubambiswano, is made up of members of the three Apex bodies; the Eswatini National Youth Cooperative Alliance (ESNYCA), Eswatini Association of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (ESASCCO) and the Eswatini Multi-Purpose Co-operative Union (ESWAMCU).
The former president was said to have been suspended after the Audit and Supervisory Committee found that he had three cases to answer after he allegedly violated the Cooperatives Societies Act and regulations.
According to Sukati, the former president of NCFE was suspended following an email he sent to the board, which was later directed to the supervisory chairperson on of September 22, 2022.
Repeatedly
It was said that he had repeatedly sent emails to the supervisory committee about issues of the federation, which he was supposed to address with the board’s executive committee.
Sukati stated that the official was warned against using the wrong platform to address issues. However, the former president is said to have persisted using the same platform.
Interviewed
On November 10, 2022, the former president was reportedly interviewed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee about his misconduct.
“The president was questioned on the chain of communication.
He was even asked if he appreciated why this charge was put before him, and he acknowledged it and said he understood why he was wrong,” said Sukati.
She stated that on the same evening, the former president went ahead and sent another late night email to the commissioner and DGRV, the donor. Subsequently, Sibandze was charged for this offence.
On another note, the official was alleged to have absconded a board meeting that was convened by the Advisory Committee.
“The president felt that he did not sanction the meeting hence he did not recognise it.
However, when probed by the committee in November 2022, he is said to have acknowledged that he was notified about the meeting by a board member, but said he could not attend it because he was out the country.
“The president believed the NCFE had to be run according to his will and that everyone else should be aligned to his line of thought. This kind of behaviour was unfortunately enabled by the office of the commissioner,” asserted Sukati.
Amid all these charges, the chairperson stated that the former president was not punished as the then board was advised to lift his suspension to allow a smooth annual general meeting (AGM), which took place on December 12, 2022.
This is the same time that an interim NCFE board was elected. Sukati said the duration of Sibandze’s suspension was proportionate with his transgressions. Reacting to this report, one member of the cooperatives affiliating under NCFE, Qinisile Matse, said this case set a bad precedent as other members could also violate laws and regulations and hope to get away with it.
“It’s a pity that he was not found guilty of any of the charges that were leveled against him,” stated Matse.
Her concern was that not punishing the former president for his alleged transgressions would give others the idea that they could tarnish the reputation of the federation and get away with it.
She said, this way, people of such calibre would be recycled back into the Federation after contesting for executive positions in their various cooperatives affiliated under the NCFE since there would not be anything preventing them from doing so.
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