Africa-Press – Eswatini. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo has told the Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini that there is no cabal trying to oust him.
Khumalo said this yesterday in Parliament during the debate of the first quarter performance report for the financial year 2024/2025 for Private and Cabinet offices. The MP said Dlamini was appointed by His Majesty the King at Sibaya, and he should not listen to liars in this country who tell him that there is a cabal. He said the PM might find himself believing that there is a cabal, when there is none such.
Khumalo told the PM that if the police were to investigate, they would not find any cabal.
“But you will listen to people talking about a cabal. There is no reason not to support you, but we cannot support you blindly. You cannot also allow us to always sing your praises, no! We will tell it like it is, we will speak, but that does not mean we hate you,” the MP said.
Khumalo said there was a notion from Hospital Hill that there was a cabal and wondered what the aim of the cabal would be.
“Who wants to remove you, for what reason because you have been chosen by the king Esibayeni. Who would want to do that?” Khumalo asked.
He also recalled when a former PM said there was a mafia at the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and Parliament. Khumalo said he looked at the PM and laughed.
He added that KPMG conducted a forensic audit to investigate the EPTC where a company known as MVTel was identified.
“It was said MVTel stood for Marwick Victor Telecoms,” Khumalo said.
He said the report of the forensic audit was shoved into a shelf because it did not have what the former PM hoped it would uncover.
“The Marwick Victor Telecoms was in fact Mfana Victor telecoms, as Mfana was Victor’s middle name,” Khumalo said. He said he was telling the story to show the lies that were in this country.
“Money was spent and the report ended at cabinet. A few months later, red carpets were rolled out between the PM and his friend here in Ezulwini. When they died, they were friends,” he said. He said a liar came out and told the PM lies, and he also believed them. “There is no cabal, everyone respects that you have been chosen by the king.
Lies
‘‘We will not support you with lies; we will tell you the truth. No one will set out to destroy the PM. Destroy him for what, because they will never be PM,” he said.
Khumalo said he was putting the issue out because there were a lot of these talks about a cabal which would lead to the PM losing focus, yet what they talked about was non-existent.
“Let us push government for the grand plan, and not work on petty issues, so that the country can move forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, Khumalo also asked about the cars which members of the cabinet are supposed to get for official duties and take them home when their term ended.
He said ministers had cars bought for them which were Isuzu and white in colour yet the ones they were supposed to get had not yet arrived. Khumalo said this was what happened in the previous Parliament as the previous cabinet received their cars after two years in office, which means at the end of the term, they got new vehicles, which some of them sold. He asked what that meant because the circular stated that the cars belonged to them after five years.
“Do you want to tell the taxpayer that this is what they are worth ? Those are brand new cars. Will the new PM allow that under his watch, so that we are ready for that,” he said.
No rush in corruption arrest – PM
The PM Russell Mmiso Dlamini says they did not want to do a rush job in investigating corruption and end up arresting innocent people.
The PM committed to rooting out corruption wherever it exists, and to bringing to justice those who have abused their positions of power for personal gain.
Dlamini said it was a process to fight corruption.
He said they did not wish to drag people’s names through the mud, yet they had not done anything wrong.
The PM said the task team meant to fight corruption was working on it professionally, so that when someone was arrested, there was enough proof during prosecution.
Dlamini said as part of their commitment to transparency and accountability, they had made the fight against corruption a top priority.
“We believe that corruption undermines the trust and confidence that is essential to effective governance, and we are determined to eradicate it from our society,” he said.
The PM said nothing would stop them from fighting corruption.
Dlamini said the scourge of corruption had infiltrated the society and eroded public trust in the government’s institutions.
He said it was a cancer that had metastasised, impeding economic growth, undermining social justice, and eroding the foundations of the country’s democracy.
“Corruption is not a victimless crime; it is a crime against the people of Eswatini, against our children and our future generations, and against our collective aspiration for a just and prosperous society,” he said.
Dlamini said a range of anti-corruption measures, including the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Task Force, the strengthening of their whistle-blower protections, and the implementation of financial reporting and monitoring systems, were already in place.
He said these measures were not merely symbolic but were intended to send a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Corruption
Currently, 250 cases of corruption are under investigation.
He said the government’s strategic and development partners like IMF and others had appreciated their progress against corruption in the country.
“If we fight corruption successfully, a lot of money will be freed for development purposes,” he said.
Dlamini said Parliament had a critical role to play in this effort.
“We must work together, across political and social divides, to identify and expose corruption, hold perpetrators accountable, and strengthen the institutions that safeguard our democracy,” he said.
MPs had praised the PM in his stance against corruption.
However, they wanted to know when people would be arrested.
Appointed MP Chief Ngalonkhulu Mabuza asked when those who paid bribes would also be arrested.
Manzini Region MP Thandeka Motsa said corruption was increasing, and the big fish were wandering the streets.
Mafutseni MP Sabelo Mtetwa said the fight against corruption should concentrate on those who thought they were untouchable.
He said the law was dealing with those who farmed dagga, yet the big fish in corruption were not touched.
AG’s office needs to be capacitated – PM
PRIME minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini says the office of the auditor general AG needs to be capacitated.
He said he was glad that members of the PAC admitted that they also needed capacitation. He said their admission meant that something had to be done in the way they did their work. Dlamini said the office of the AG also said publicly that it needed capacitation.
He said they were of the view that if the office of the AG should be capacitated, a comprehensive review of the office was necessary.
He said this would assist to identify the gaps that exist and be directed to close them. He said after that, the office would be assisted where they need assistance. The PM said this in response to the questions of the MPs about his statement that the office of the AG was incompetent.
Mayiwane MP Sicelo Dlamini said the PM spoke in a public forum to state what was later said to be a personal opinion.
He wanted to know if the office was competent on investigating the misuse of public funds.
Kubuta MP Masiphula Mamba, who is also a member of the PAC, said it appeared previously that the PM had no confidence in the office of the AG, but his preamble showed that he had confidence in it. He asked that the PM make his position on the office known.
The PAC Chairman Madala Mhlanga, on the other hand, thanked the PM for recognising the PAC in his preamble. He asked for support of the PAC.
He said the PAC needed capacity building to speak from an informed position. Mhlanga further called for the amendment or the repeal of the Privileges Act, so that it was at par with model law.
MP Welcome warns of elements pushing for another unrest
Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini has called on the government press office to be intentional on spreading propaganda about the government.
Dlamini said a second unrest was being perpetuated and wondered what government was doing to counter what was being said in the meetings hosted every week.
He said pushing propaganda was not a crime, as some countries even had a minister of propaganda.
He said government should do the same and be intentional in their action plan.
The MPs also asked why the government press office made differing statements on the same issue, citing the Mbondzela farm issue as an example.
Source:observer
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
