MBABANE:Dr Roland Dlamini,the Director of Veterinary and Lifestock Services in the Ministry of Agriculture has been accused of ill-treating BoMadibhane while failing to facilitate the improvement of their working conditions.
Aggrived boMadibhane who contacted this Swaziland News alleged that, instead of improving their welfare,the Director sets them against farmers while making baseless accusations suggesting that,they collude with cattle thieves to steal farmers cattle.
“He is failing to address our concerns and improve our working conditions.We are forced to seek shelter from people’s homes next to the Dip-tanks because we have no houses, our housing allowance is only six hundred Rands(R600,00.) and there’s no decent house you can rent with R600.00”, said one of the aggrieved Madibhane.
This publication saw screenshots of Whatsap group messages where the matter was discussed by boMadibhane.
Reached for comments,Dr Roland Dlamini,the Director of Veterinary and Lifestock Services in the Ministry of Agriculture denied the allegations adding that, issues pertaining welfare of Government employees are discussed by Unions and Government.
“Theft is neither exclusive to professions nor gender or any other attribute other than criminality.There are good professionals in every profession and there are criminals or bad potatoes in every profession-accounting,medical,teachers,police etc.Theft is defined in the country\'s laws.With regards to livestock relevant legislation inlcude the Animal Disease Act 7/65, Livestock Identification Act 13/2001, Stock Theft Act,1982 and the Veterinary Public Health Act 17/2017.All these four acts define elements of theft and illegality.As such it is not for me to say who is a thief or not.With regards to staff welfare such as salaries, hardship allowances that is beyond the Director.These are subjects or agenda items for the GNT negotiations between Govt and Unions,” said the Director Veterinary and Lifestock Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, he was responding to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
One of the houses used by Madibhane.