Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini will soon face grilling by Parliament after secretly transferring about R100million ($5.1million) to the corruption infested National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) without Parliament and/or Cabinet approval.
It has been disclosed that, the monies were paid by the Government of the United States (US) as a token of appreciation after Eswatini accepted the dumping of dangerous criminals and/or immigrants from the US, previously convicted by their respective countries of murder and child rape among other serious criminal crimes.
But a high level investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, after the United States paid about R100million as confirmed by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg when addressing Parliament recently, the PM subsequently directed that, the money be transferred to the NDMA, a department under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office where he previously worked as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
But worth-noting, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, while working as the CEO of the Disaster Management Agency allegedly failed to account for about R200million as per the report of the Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula, he was subsequently hauled before the Parliament Public Accounts Committee (PAC) but again, failed to clarify the audit queries.
It has been dislcosed that, the PM recently summoned all Principal Secretaries of the various Government Ministries and urged them to work directly and/or take orders from him not their respective Ministers in what appears to be a serious threat by a sitting Prime Minister to the proper administration of the entire Eswatini Government systems.
As a result, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Vusie Dlamini allegedly colluded with the Prime Minister in the illegal transfer of the about R100million and it is alleged that, after being captured by the PM and urged to disrespect the Finance Minister, the Principal Secretary vigorously opposed Minister Neal Rijikernberg during a recent meeting inside the Cabinet Offices.
Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli declined to comment about the matter that might soon be a subject of a vigorous debate in the Eswatini Parliament.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Sunday afternoon, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said to the best of his knowledge, even Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg was not aware of the money paid by the US adding that, it was supposed to be administered by the Ministry of Finance through the Treasury Department.
“It’s was highly irregular to have this money transferred to the NDMA, it was supposed to held by the Ministry of Finance Treasury Department and be incorporated into the national fiscus. As the situation stands, only the Prime Minister knows the motive behind the transferring the money to the National Disaster Management Agency. It was also irregular for the PM to sign an agreement that involves such a huge amount of money with the United States without the knowledge or involvement of the country’s Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg and now, the money is being laundered outside the country’s fiscus,” said the lawyer.
Eswatini, through Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, signed a highly questionable agreement with the United States, the agreement will result to the US dumping more dangerous criminals in the country threatening the security of Eswatini and other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
But the agreement between the US and Eswatini seen by this publication suggests that, Eswatini will use the about R100million to strengthen the country’s immigration systems and this means, apart from violating the Eswatini Government policies governing the administration of public and other foreign funds received on behalf of the country, the Prime Minister has violated the very same agreement signed with the United States.
The final destination of the R100million allegedly laundered through the Disaster Management Agency remain unclear but, a subject of a vigorous investigation by this independent online publication.
