By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson, has come out to clarify that, King Mswati was not involved in renewing Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo’s contract but it was a decision of the Civil Service Commission(CSC).

This comes after the Times of eSwatini reported earlier on Tuesday morning that, “Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini is questioning” the renewal of Nxumalo’s contract.

“Government, as a steward of public resources, would also prefer that any employee of government will be paid for work done and not merely for holding a contract.It is not considered prudent to hire and place someone on leave”, said the PM as quoted by the Times.

But Alpheous Nxumalo when quoted by the Times said, he was told that his contract “has been renewed” as per a royal command.

“It is news to me that the PM raised such issues pertaining to my contract renewal. When I met the Principal Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, they informed me that the PM said my employment was a command. In fact, it was said that the PM would go to thank (kuyobonga) the command before the contract is endorsed,” said the Government Spokesperson who is currently on ‘special leave’ pending the conclusion of his rape criminal case.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Tuesday morning when asked to clarify the confusion that has since erupted after the renewal of Alpheous Nxumalo’s contract, King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said, the contract “has been renewed by the CSC” not the King.

“We were told the Civil Service Commission was responsible for the contract renewal in question. The King’s  name was not mentioned in the instrument we read. We therefore have no idea how the King’s name came to be used if it was”, said the King’s Spokesperson.