By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly told the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC) lawyer Simanga Mamba that, “Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo will never set foot inside the Cabinet Offices while he is still the PM”.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said he was still consulting on this matter and therefore, cannot pre-empty issues under discussion.

“It’s a matter we are working on, I’m currently consulting”, said the Prime Minister.

But Cabinet sources this publication that, the PM stated categorically that, Alpheous Nxumalo will never set foot inside the Cabinet Offices as a Government as his reputation has already been tainted.

It is alleged that, the PM received calls, emails and letters from various international partners or organizations enquiring if “eSwatini is undermining women’s rights by renewing a contract for a person facing rape allegations”.

In one of the meetings, the PM allegedly said, he has an obligation to protect the image of the country and the King from unnecessary attacks on this matter as emaSwati and the international community will accuse the Monarch of incubating alleged rapists.

But King Mswati is alleged to have given a verge answer to members of the Civil Service Commission who approached him for guidance on Alpheous Nxumalo’s issue, insiders within the CSC told this publication.

“The King did not give us a specific answer on this matter. Watsi ningibutani mine ngoba vele tigebengu nisebenta nato leka-Hulumende, labanye siyeva kutsi beba imali yemaphilisi kodvwa solo bayasebenta bayahola. The Chairman then directed that we must renew the contract but there was no specific order directing the Commission to renew the contract”, said a member of the CSC.

In a recent press statement, Simanga Mamba, the Chairman of the CSC who is a lawyer by profession said Nxumalo remains innocent until proven guilty by the court of law.

But the CSC Chairman is alleged to have held a meeting with the Prime Minister in an effort to make him understand why Alpheous Nxumalo’s contract has been renewed, however, “the Prime Minister is alleged to have told Mamba that, he must find an alternative position for Nxumalo if they are friends not such a very critical position of Government Spokesperson”.