By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs has been accused of bullying Principal Secretary (PS) Khangeziwe Mabuza reminding the PS that “she is now bigger than her”.

Both the Tourism Minister and the PS previously worked together at the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane was the Director of Gender reporting to Khangeziwe Mabuza, the then Principal Secretary in the DPM’s Office, Tourism Under Secretary Hlobsile Dlamini was also working with both Mabuza and Jane Mkhonta-Simelane.

But Mkhonta-Simelane won elections at Mbabane West Inkhundla and was subsequently appointed by the King as the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and she allegedly started bullying Mabuza, reminding her that “she is now her Minister”.

Electronic evidence obtained by this publication substantiates that, at some point, the Principal Secretary blasted the Minister saying “she was tired of the bullying”.

Cabinet subsequently resolved the conflict between the PS and the Tourism Minister by appointing Khangeziwe Mabuza as the seconded Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sincemphetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF).

Reached for comments, PS Khangeziwe Mabuza said, she can’t comment about the Ministry Tourism and Environmental Affairs as “she is now working as the Chief Executive Officer” of the Sincemphetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

“I am now working for SMVAF and can’t comment about the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs,” she said.

Efforts to reach the Tourism Minister for a comment proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

But insiders within the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs told this Swaziland News that, the PS will have some ‘fresh air’ after the recent SMVAF appointment.

“The PS was bullied by the Minister almost everyday and she was losing patience. Even though she has been hostile even towards the Acting PS, Hlobsile Dlamini is able manage and work with her,” said the insider.

Khangeziwe Mabuza is now the seconded Chief Executive Officer of the Sincemphetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, she was appointed by Cabinet through Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg.