Africa-Press – Eswatini. Mbabane Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Peter Bhembe has become the fourth member of the current Cabinet to pass on. Bhembe passed away on Monday night at a South African health facility while undergoing specialised treatment.
The minister’s death follows that of three other members including the late Prime Minister Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini who lost his life due to COVID-19 complications in December 2020.
His passing follows that of ministers Makhosi Vilakati, who was Minister of Labour and Social Security and Christian Ntshangase, Minister Public Service.
Both ministers succumbed to COVID-19 related deaths in January last year. Passed Bhembe is the sixth Parliamentarian including the above mentioned ministers who were also MPs that have passed away during the current term with a total of four Senators and two MPs.
The Senators who passed away include Senators Mike Temple, Chief Nzameya and Jimmy Hlophe. Before his appointment into Senate and later as the minister, Bhembe served as managing director at the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), a company he worked for over 25 years.
Bhembe’s passing was confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku in a statement issued by government yesterday morning. “His Majesty’s Government notifies the nation of the sad passing of Honourable Peter Bhembe, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy.
“Further details on his funeral arrangements will be shared in due course. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” read the statement. Well-placed sources have indicated that Cabinet has set up a team to liaise with the Bhembe family and work on the preparations for his funeral.
They mentioned that the family would be the right people to talk to when requesting information.
However, the source could not comment further, as they were not mandated to do so and that all communication would be done through the team set up by Cabinet which would issue a formal statement.
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