MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly ordered police officers to forcefully remove Public Service Minister Mabulala Maseko from his Cabinet Office as tension escalates ahead of the proposed conversion of the Eswatini National Provident Fund(ENPF) into a National Pension Fund.
It has been disclosed that, the Prime Minister questioned the Public Service Minister why he was spying him and pretending to be supporting the conversion of the Provident Fund into a National Pension Fund when in fact, he was opposed to it, instead of being honest and disagree with him.
Minister Mabulala Maseko was in Cabinet on Monday morning to meet the PM, he was with Public Service Pension Fund(PSPF) Board Chairman Samuel ‘Sammy’ Dlamini and Principal Secretary Bheki Bhembe among others to discuss the proposed conversion.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, PSPF Board Chairman Sammy Dlamini wondered how this journalist received such information about things happening inside Cabinet.
“Wena utitsatsaphi letindzaba letingaka, it’s difficult for me to comment Nkhosi as the Public Service Minister is my boss”, said the PSPF Chairman.
Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Public Service Minister Mabulala who was very close to the PM is alleged to have been pretending to be supporting the conversion but on the other hand, spying the Prime Minister.
But the PM publicly declared that, he wants the Provident Fund to be converted into a National Pension Fund so that, all emaSwati in various industries could benefit.
The Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) is converting to a national pension fund to provide monthly retirement income, moving from the traditional provident fund's lump-sum payment system.
The new fund will aim for greater inclusivity by covering formal and informal sectors, and will operate alongside the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF).
But this conversion has sparked debate, with concerns about financial sustainability and the potential impact on existing funds, particularly the PSPF.
It has been disclosed that, Cabinet is highly expected to facilitate another meeting where the Provident Fund and the PSPF will sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) “that seeks to facilitate a working relationship to ensure that, the establishment of the National Pension Fund does not undermine but complement the Public Service Pension Fund”.
Public Service Minister Mabulala Maseko(pic:FB).