By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly violated Government procurement procedures in an R18million Cabinet Offices and his residence security upgrades tender funded by Taiwan by allegedly ‘handpicking’ a company that subsequently sourced the equipment from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), triggering tension with the Embassy of the ‘breakaway’ Chinese Province in Eswatini.

It has been disclosed that, after the Taiwan Embassy refused to pay for the equipment citing the Prime Minister’s diplomatic betrayal by sourcing the equipment from China, the PM subsequently issued an order to the National Budgeting Committee a few weeks ago directing the Ministry of Finance to include at least about R12million in the National Budget to be delivered by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg next week so that, he can partly pay the company.

China, backed by the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2758 of 1971, regards Taiwan as it’s Province and as a result, Taiwan frowns upon or interprets any Eswatini’s dealing with the People’s Republic of China as a diplomatic betrayal, Eswatini is Taiwan’s last diplomatic partner.

Reached for comments by this publication, Jeremy Liang, the Taiwan Ambassador urged this journalist to contact the Government on such issues.

“Speak to the Government”, said the Taiwan Ambassador.

But Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli who also speaks on behalf of the Prime Minister, declined to comment.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Tuesday, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said, the Prime Minister created a huge blunder by awarding a tender to a company outside the Government procurement procedures adding that, “Parliament remains the legitimate Arm of Government” to hold him accountable.

“It’s now a Parliament matter, MPs must hold him accountable once the budget has been tabled in Parliament. But even before that, Finance Minister must refuse to include this money with irregularities in the National Budget,” said the lawyer.

On another note, the issue of the PM violating Government procurement procedures might be a subject of debate in the Legislative House once King Mswati officially opened Parliament this week.

It has been disclosed that, the company awarded the tender by the Prime Minister to upgrade security in the Cabinet Offices and his residence, was not approved by the Eswatini Tender Board.