MBABANE: Samson Sithole, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise(ESWADE) says Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg and his Agriculture Minister Jabulani Mabuza never interfered in the tendering process of the now controversial R3billion Mpakeni Dam, the project is funded through a loan sourced from the African Development Bank(AfDB).
The CEO was responding to questions from this Swaziland News amid allegations suggesting that Ministers Mabuza and Rijikernberg received R5million each to influence the awarding of the tender to Sinohydro, a company owned by the government of the People’s Republic of China(PRC), the tender is under ESWADE.
“The allegations you talking about are not new, they emerged during the tendering process, I was once accused of taking a bribe from Steffanutte Stocks after it transpired that the tender might be won by Steffanutte, I was accused of meeting the Directors at Sandton. The very same Agriculture Minister you are talking about now called me into a meeting to verify these allegations and I told him that it’s been a long time since I went to South Africa. Now, after learning that the tender has been won by the international contractor, it’s Ministers Neal and Mabuza who are accused of taking bribes from the Chinese company, I can assure you, the Ministers are clean. What is happening here is that there are people who are bitter after losing the tender, they have been threatening me, saying that they will deal with me once the current Cabinet is dissolved,”said ESWADE Chief Executive Officer(CEO).
Intelligence information in our possession suggests that alleged Directors of the Chinese company might soon meet the King, before the construction of the Mpakeni Dam commenced.
Both Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg and Agriculture Minister Jabulani Mabuza had not responded to our questionnaire at the time of compiling this report.
But the awarding of the tender to the company owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China(PRC), is alleged to have triggered diplomatic tension between eSwatini Government and the Republic of China on Taiwan, eSwatini has been diplomatically snubbing Mainland China in favour of Taiwan.
Reached for comments on Wednesday, Jeremy Liang, the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan said he was not comfortable to discuss this matter or the controversy surrounding the decision to award the tender to the company owned by the Mainland China,he referred comments to Government.
“I think you have to contact the eSwatini Government about this, I am not comfortable to speak about it,” said the Taiwanese Ambassador to eSwatini when speaking to this Swaziland News on Wednesday afternoon.
Insiders very close to the matter told this publication that efforts were being made to report Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg and the Minister of Agriculture over alleged bribery allegations, the two Ministers are alleged to have been directly involved and raised the tendering ‘standards’ to deprive local companies an opportunity to qualify for the R3billion tender.
“They are alleged to have received R5million each to award the tender to the Chinese company, if you can call the Taiwan Ambassador, he is very upset about the whole process because this means the Chinese from the Mainland China are already winning the King and eSwatini Government. We are yet to report to the King about this but seemingly, the Directors of the Chinese company are also on their way to meet the King, I’m not sure if they have already met him,” said the insider.
Information in our possession further suggests that the alleged bribery allegations were discussed in a meeting between Mswati’s close allies and a senior Prince whose name cannot be disclosed for now pending further investigations.
Responding to our questionnaire on the subject matter,King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane said the Taiwan Ambassador was right to refer this Swaziland News to Government for answers, regarding the controversy surrounding the Mpakeni Dam tender.
“The Taiwanese Ambassador is right,Government should be the one responding. We don’t handle diplomatic relations but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.You will recall that I no longer respond on behalf of Government but the King’s Office.The tenders too are handled by Government,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
A questionnaire was sent to Government Spokesperson Apheous Nxumalo,however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
But on or around 05 March 2023, the Times Sunday reported that Sinohydro, the Chinese company that won the tender, was in a joint venture known as Sakhalive, competing for the dam project with another joint venture of Stefanutti Stocks and WBHO.
According to the Times report, Sinohydro was once blacklisted by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the main funder of the Mpakeni Dam project, for having engaged in fraudulent practices in a project in Uganda that was financed by the bank.
A report published by the British daily business newspaper, Financial Times suggests that, Sinohydro is a descendant of China’s now-defunct Hydropower Ministry and its most important State role is overseas, where it represents the face of China in hydroelectric power and infrastructure projects.
On another note, Samson Sithole, the ESWADE CEO told this publication that, the tendering process was clean and transparent such that,even if it were to be started afresh and be conducted by an independent entity, he was confident that the Chinese would win.
“I am aware of the law suggesting that international companies must establish Joint Ventures with locals but this project is funded by the African Development Bank with its own standards and rules. So, this Chinese company won the tender at international level but that doesn’t mean local companies won’t benefit. I would make an example, the Chinese won’t transport Bulldozers from their country to eSwatini, they will source some equipment from local companies,” said the ESWADE CEO.
Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg.