By Zweli Martin Dlamini

NKHANINI: An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News has uncovered electronic evidence substantiating how the State through the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC) was defrauded over R1million in a highly syndicated ‘ghost’ employees payment system.

It has been disclosed that,during the recruitment of Election Clerks, a syndicate involving and/or linked to senior EBC official Siboniso Nhleko, the Lubombo Region Presiding Officer allegedly registered or activated ‘ghost’ employees in the Elections and Boundaries(EBC) Commission payment system.

The phrase ‘ghost employees’ refers to individuals added to an organization’s payment system to fraudulently benefit through salaries when in actually fact,they don’t work there.

Preliminarily findings of the investigation conducted by this publication suggest that, on or around September 2023, over two hundred(200) ‘ghost’ employees were fraudulently registered with the EBC payment around Matsapha and/or Kwaluseni including students of the University of Eswatini(UNESWA), their Identification(ID) and Mobile Money(MM) numbers were compiled.

The alleged ‘ghost’ employees include among others, Mazwi Gamedze(7689 9402),former Economic Freedom Fighters(EFFSWA) Swaziland Students Command President Mpendulo Brutus Dlamini(76916994) and Mlandvo Mthupha whose Mobile Money number is 7805 2048.

An independent investigation conducted by this publication on the MTN Mobile Money payment system suggests that,on Monday 18th December 2023 around 13:15pm, the Elections Commission senior officials within the Accounts Office allegedly used the Commission’s Mobile Money payment system to send monies amounting to four thousand six hundred and eighty Rands(R4,680.00) to each of the various Mobile Money numbers for the ‘ghost’ employees.

The monies when calculated with the number of ‘ghost’ employees as per our preliminary findings, amount to over R1million.

Mlandvo Phiwankhosi Mthupha with Mobile Money 78052048 who is an alleged close agent of the alleged EBC corrupt officials, received four thousand,three hundred and fifty(R4350.00) at exactly 8:22pm on Monday, the 18th December 2023 from the Mobile Money number that received R4680.00 from the Elections Commission payment system.

Efforts to reach the two(2) above named ghost employees proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

But Mlandvo Mthupha first joined the fast lane when contacted by this publication for a comment.

But shortly after terminating the call from this publication at around 21:26pm on Tuesday, Mlandvo allegedly called one of the EBC officials alerting him that “sekuyasha ngishayelwe ngu-Zwemart” and soon thereafter at around 12:48, he sent a message to this journalist requesting to be called again.

“This is Mlandvo Mthupha please call me again”, reads the text message from the alleged ghost employee.

When called again by this publication,Mlandvo Mthupha said,he was on the road that’s why he terminated the previous conversation, he then claimed he was employed by the Elections Commission and the payment was legitimate.

“The payment was legitimate, I was employed by the EBC”, he said.

But electronic evidence in our possession suggest that, Mlandvo Mthupha was not only an alleged ‘ghost’ employee but one of the agents of the EBC corrupt syndicate.

As a result, he received the R4350 and other monies from other ‘ghost’ employees on behalf of the corrupt Elections Commission officials and subsequently transferred part of the monies to end beneficiaries of the corrupt transaction.

But it appeared in the transactions that, the State monies were first laundered to the different Mobile Money accounts owned by the ‘ghost’ employees before reaching the EBC officials either directly or through their agents.

The evidence further suggests that, each ‘ghost’ employee particularly the University students were allegedly paid only three hundred Rands(R300,00) by the syndicate for using their Mobile Money numbers as a conduit and/or in the process of defrauding the State.

“I can confirm that we were approached by the EBC officials and their agents to register our Mobile Money(MM) numbers, they even compiled our ID numbers.I am aware of the over 200 ghost employees and I am one of them.We were promised R300 as a token or appreciation.Nayingena lemali utsatsa R300 and send the balance to the agents or the EBC officials. As you know the poverty situation here, even University students that I know were used.Please don’t reveal my name I will assist further information and cooperate with any investigation.Lekitsi bafika estandini basibhalisa batsatsa tinombolo tetfu”,said one of the ghost EBC employees who cooperated with an investigation by this Swaziland News.

On another note, Prince Mhlabuhlangene,the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC) told this publication earlier this week that,the issue of the ‘ghost’ employees was also a subject of an investigation by the police adding that, it delayed the payment of legitimate Election Clerks.

A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati,the Police Spokesperson,however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Siboniso Nhleko,the Lubombo Region Presiding Officer who is allegedly among the Elections Commission senior officials who defrauded the State, declined to comment when contacted by this Swaziland News on Wednesday afternoon.

But evidence in our possession further uncovered that, on or around 14th September 2023, Nhleko was reported to Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu, the then Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for allegedly depriving Sizakele Hlophe an opportunity to work for the EBC.

Now, it has emerged that, Nhleko was already in the process of compiling his list of ‘ghost’ employees with an alleged intention to defraud the State through the Elections Commission.

Hlophe of Nkilongo who is holding a Degree in Humanities had on or around May 2023 successfully applied for a job with the Commission ahead of the recent elections, however the Lubombo Presiding Officer, with intent to defraud, subsequently removed and replaced her with a ‘ghost’ employee.

As a result, the electronic computer system of the Commission seen by this publication earlier suggested that, before the controversy surrounding the ghost employees, Hlophe was supposed to be working as a Clerk for Elections Commission at Vuma Primary School under Lubulini Inkhundla in the Lubombo region.

On another note, the EBC officials whose names appear in the fraudulent ‘ghost’ employees payment system, cannot be revealed for now as the vigorous investigation by this publication and verification of other relevant information continues.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on the latest developments,Prince Mhlabuhlangene,the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission(EBC) urged those with such evidence to assist the Commission or visit the nearest Police Station.

“Indeed Hlubi as indicated earlier, that based on the allegations of criminal impropriety and/or corruption, we have got and continue getting, it is a matter that is now being investigated by law enforcement, for the obvious reasons of lawful criminal prosecution where sufficiently established.In this regard we as the EBC commission can only rely on the public in possession of such information and/or evidence, to come forth or bring it to us to be handed over to law enforcement or do so directly. We have no room for corruption and nothing will be  shoved under the carpet given our value, as one of the key national institutions,that of integrity. Therefore all and any available evidence in this regard we implore the public not to hesitate availing such either to us to pass through or better still,for it to be present directly to the nearest police station in the country”, said the Chairman of the Elections Commission.