MBABANE: Princess Sikhanyiso,the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT)is away from work in yet another maternity leave within a period of two(2)years.
The Minister was away in 2020 for close to a year, she was forced back to work after incarcerated Member of Parliament(MP)Bacede Mabuza raised the matter in Parliament around April 2021.
A questionnaire was sent to the Minister,however,she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments,Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF)said in as far as he understood,a maternity leave cannot be approved twice in a space of 24-months.
“Princess Sikhanyiso’s last maternity leave ended around May 2021,within twelve(12)months,she fell pregnant again.
I will not comment in a manner that undermines human rights.Kodvwa-ke kulendzaba yalontfombatana lona(Sikhanyiso),I think she is doing this knowing that they are enjoying our taxes with impunity. Even last time,she was away for a long-time but continued to receive her salary,” said the MSF Secretary General.
Princess Sikhanyiso is on second maternity leave in a space of three years.