Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly clashed with Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Minister Savannah Maziya ahead of the “Mbabane Municipality 5G Smart City” official launch to be graced by visiting Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung.
It is alleged that the bone of contention was the PM’s demand to have the project presented as his idea and, under his Office yet it was the brainchild of the Information Minister.
The PM has already benefited over R40 million under the same project, and it is alleged that he manipulated it to have cameras installed at his residence, saying he was “conducting security upgrades”.
The technology company that was awarded the tender is a subject of a high-level investigation amid allegations suggesting that it was linked to the PM and Taiwan Ambassador to eSwatini Jeremy Liang.
But according to documents highlighting the highly confidential schedule of the visiting Taiwan Foreign Minister, he will launch the technology project on Thursday around 8:30 am in Mbabane.
It is alleged that the Information Minister had to be negotiated not to boycott the official launch amid tension with the PM, the ‘conflict’ between the Prime Minister and the ICT Minister has been going on for some time now, allegedly triggered by the Prime Minister’s political insecurity.
Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli declined to comment about the matter.
On another note, the project seeks to ensure that, the “Mbabane Municipality is technologically developed, including the installation of free WiFi within the capital city.”
Information, Communication and Technology Minister Savannah Maziya “has been presenting in Parliament, saying she wants to see the whole country technologically developed”.
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