By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Siphelele Mkhonta, the newly elected Senator is allegedly linked to a powerful network controlled by Simanga Mamba, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC), he runs Mamba’s ‘undercover’ bank accounts and further controls some of ‘his businesses’ that supply schools.

Simanga Mamba, a lawyer by profession, is the former Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission(CSC) and there is overwhelming evidence suggesting that, before being re-deployed by the King to the CSC, he allegedly created his syndicate in various schools by promoting Headteachers who then returned the favour by awarding ‘his company’ Mr Builder and Construction(trading as Basadi Construction) tenders to supply schools and/or provide construction services.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, the new Senator terminated the conversation immediately after this journalist introduced himself, preparing to start posing questions.

“Yebo Nkhosi”, he said but after this journalist started to pose questions, he terminated the conversation.

On or around 12th August 2019, the Times of eSwatini reported that, Mpaka High School paid the then TSC Chairman Simanga Mamba linked Basadi Construction about six hundred and fifty thousand Rands(R650,000.00) merely for constructing toilets with showers, the school subsequently experienced financial challenges after processing the payment.

But Mkhonta became the first announced winner in the race to Senate after accumulating the highest votes, it is alleged that in addition to the alleged bribery, Civil Service Commission(CSC) Chairman Simanga Mamba promised some Members of Parliament(MPs) that, he will reward them by convincing the King to appoint them as Cabinet Ministers.

“Apart from the bribery,the MPs were tricked to elect him and Simanga was promising some of them that,he will convince the King to appoint them to Cabinet.Ibhizinisi yakhe yakha emaHhola etikolwa nalokunye lokwakhiwa latikolweni angakufaka nje ube ngu-Headteacher you reward him with a tender.Nanyalo abetjela labantfu atsi yemaja! nawufuna kuba ngu-Minister faka lona mine ngitakukhulumela.Wena utsi lomuntfu longatiwa abengatfola emavoti langaka nge-speed kwentenjani?", said an insider very close to the matter.

A questionnaire was sent to Simanga Mamba,the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC), however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

On another note,the new Senator is listed as a Director for Basadi Construction,the company with alleged links to CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba,that allegedly looted millions of public funds in schools.

Documents in our possession suggests that,the company was registered and incorporated in 2009,with Identity Document(ID) number 200902271002348.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News,King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane clarified that, the King does not rely on individuals when appointing Cabinet Ministers but Liqoqo and the Prime Minister.

“The King does not rely in individuals when appointing Cabinet Ministers but on the official and legal advisory body Liqoqo in collaboration with the Prime Minister.Anyone claiming to be able to influence the King on his own on such appointments is surely  economic with the truth.We see such maneuvers as a pointer to moral decay,” said the King’s Spokesperson.