Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Mswati is in full support of the looming high profile arrests by the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC), his Spokesperson Percy Simelane told on Saturday morning.
Reacting to an article published by this independent publication on Friday, the King’s Spokesperson said the Monarch long pronounced his stand on corruption adding that, Government was mandated to fight corruption.
Simelane was specifically clarifying a question from this publication on whether law enforcement agencies including the Anti Corruption Commission, are expected to seek permission from King Mswati before arresting individuals who were appointed by the Monarch into powerful or influential positions.
“We are not aware of any YES or NO by the King when a suspect is about to be arrested for being on the wrong side of the law.We are aware however of self-editing among the Swati people where a person could feel the King should be made aware that his appointee is about to be locked-up.We do not have any record of this.Our experience is that it ends up being a desired move that hardly sees daylight.For corruption the King pronounced himself through last year’s Speech from the Throne that he wants convictions and not just arrests,”said the King’s Spokesperson.
It has been reported that,Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, Civil Service Commission(CSC) Chairman Simanga Mamba, Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff, Principal Secretary(PS) in the Prime Minister’s Office Bertram Steward, former Justice Minister Ndumiso Mamba, Zimbabwean businessman and Escponent Director George Manyere are among high profile individuals allegedly investigated by the Anti Corruption Commission as per information leaked by investigators of the ACC.
The investigation against the Chief Justice was exclusively reported by this publication after this journalist obtained some documents from the ACC investigation file.
But some of the investigations, it is alleged, were influenced by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini who established an Anti Corruption Task Team, the PM stands accused of using or weaponing the ACC to target his political enemies.
The PM allegedly receives weekly intelligence reports from the police and the meetings normally take place around 11pm at the Cabinet Offices in the capital city-Mbabane.
Both Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo and ACC Communications Director Jabu Phakathi declined to comment about the matter.
But in the matter of the Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Khumalo, this publication has gathered that, the Prime Minister is allegedly “complaining that Khumalo is controlling some Government Ministries through the various Legal Advisors who report to the AG’s Office”.
Attorney General Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo commands huge influence in the entire Government as some decisions cannot be taken or implemented without his advice or approval as the Principal Government Legal Advisor.
Furthermore PM is allegedly grounded and unable to perform some of his duties as the AG and some powerful individuals within Cabinet vigorously oppose some of his policies.
On the other hand, Simanga Mamba, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission commands power as the employer of Government, the PM cannot reshuffle or fire Principal Secretaries without consulting Mamba who will then seek approval from King Mswati.
As a result,the ACC might be used to fight looming ‘dirty political wars’ among key loyalists of the Tinkhundla system amid a power struggle within the corridors of power.
Reached for comments on Friday, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said, the Anti Corruption Commission must arrest all individuals suspected of engaging in corrupt activities but, he warned that the law enforcement institution must remain independent and without political influence.
“It’s within the mandate of the ACC to arrest individuals suspected of engaging in corruption but, the law enforcement institution must remain independent and fulfill its mandate outside political influence”, said the lawyer.
Worth-noting, some of investigations against high profile individuals are allegedly conducted secretly such that, a few senior investigators within the ACC have access to the files.
But despite the confidentiality and sensitivity of the investigations, the Prime Minister allegedly receives update reports and he even cited the number of cases investigated and concluded when delivering the Government Performance Report last week.
A former Cabinet Minister who spoke to this journalist on Saturday morning said, the King doesn’t have a problem with the arrest of individuals very close to him but, wants evidence not abuse of power to target individuals.
“Mine-ke ngake ngatsi ngikhuluma neNkhosi ngibika lomunye logangako lobaliwe kule-article yakho yayitolo, yavele iNkhosi yatsi “ikhona yini evidence”? Nayikhona akaboshwe”, said the former Cabinet Minister.
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