MBABANE:Dr Simon Zwane,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development allegedly ‘saved’ Under Secretary(US) Administration Hlobsile Dlamini by telling police officers who had invaded the Government office about two(2) weeks ago,with a warrant of arrest to ‘back-off’.
The members of the law enforcement agency were allegedly seeking to ‘grab’ and arrest the Under Secretary(US) in front of other government employees and embarrass her, the Under Secretary is accused of forging Lomakhosi Dlamini’s signature.
Lomakhosi is also the Under Secretary(US) in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) and the Housing and Urban Development Under Secretary(US) denied the allegations when appearing before court, she wondered how she could forge a signature when in fact, she was no longer working at the DPM’s Office.
It has been disclosed that,after Housing PS Dr Simon Zwane told the police officers not to embarrass the Under Secretary(US), Dlamini was then able to call her lawyer who accompanied her to the Mbabane Police Station.
As a result, the matter was subsequently discussed at the Mbabane Magistrate Court Chambers and subsequently postponed to the 15th January 2024.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that,the politically motivated arrest was allegedly orchestrated by lawyer Simanga Mamba,the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC) and Chief Justice(CJ) Bheki Maphalala who had earlier ‘clashed’ with the Under Secretary(US) after she refused to implement corrupt decisions including the sidelining of emaSwati who vigorously participated in the ongoing Fire and Emergency Department recruitment in favour of those who allegedly paid bribes.
The Civil Service Commission(CSC) was established under Section 186 of the Constitution and its functions include appointments, transfers, discipline and termination of employment for civil servants.
Both CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba and Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala were previously exposed by this publication for allegedly looting millions of public funds through fraudulent means with impunity and/or without fear of being arrested.
A questionnaire was sent to Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati,the eSwatini Police Spokesperson, however,she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Thursday,Dr Simon Zwane,the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Housing confirmed that,police officers invaded the office seeking to arrest the Under Secretary(US).
“I can only confirm that police arrived at the office seeking to arrest the Under Secretary,” said the Principal Secretary(PS).
It has been disclosed that,the corrupt machinery between Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala and the Civil Service Commission(CSC) enabled the CJ to return a favour to the CSC Chairman by ensuring that money-lending companies owed by civil servants who instructed SP Mamba Attorneys are granted garnishee orders ‘unopposed’.
Lawyer Simanga Mamba is also a brother to former Principal Secretary(PS) Clifford Mamba and the Under Secretary(US) was recently summoned by the Office of the Auditor General(AG) to assist with information in the R12million alleged theft of public funds investigation involving the then Housing PS Clifford Mamba and Slomoes Corporation where she spilled the beans.
But verified information in our possession suggests that,CJ Bheki Maphalala tried to bully the Under Secretary when seeking employment for one of his relatives within the Ministry of Housing,however,Dlamini allegedly refused to authorized the employment process, resulting to the tension against the Under Secretary that has been going for sometime now and escalated to reach the politically motivated arrest.
Hlobsile Dlamini,the persecuted Under Secretary(US) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was born from the royal household of the late Prince Gobizembe.
A questionnaire was sent to Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala,however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments,Hlobsile Dlamini,the Under Secretary(US) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said, she was not yet ready to speak or comment about the matter.
“I am not yet ready to speak or comment about the matter,” said the Under Secretary(US).
Responding to this Swaziland News on Thursday afternoon,lawyer Simanga Mamba, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC) denied that,together with the Chief Justice, they influenced the arrest of the Under Secretary(US) in the Ministry of Housing adding that,Dlamini was facing fraud charges arising from her former Ministry.
“This is a blatant lie.What interest would the Chief Justice have on the ongoing fire recruitment?.The office of the Chief Justice has no business with the Fire Recruitment.Therefore to say he facilitated the arrest of the said one Hlobsile is a fabrication and total distortion of facts and procedure. Fire recruitment is done by the Chief Fire interms of the Fire Act. The Under Secretary has no role to play in this recruitment.Further the Under Secretary does not oversee recruitment in a Ministry that’s the role of the Principal Secretary. For anyone to attribute her arrest to the Chief Justice and myself that’s very unfortunate.That person is clearly not aware of the recruitment procedure.The issue that led to her arrest arose at her former Ministry.Myself and the Chief Justice we have no involvement whatsoever.In fact we have no business and or any interest in the matter”, said the CSC Chairman.
The CSC Chairman further clarified that, the Commission entrusted the Chief Fire Officer to conduct the recruitment in terms of the Fire Act and then submit a report, he vigorously denied that he influenced the process.
“There was no influence by myself on ongoing recruitment.The Commission entrusted the Chief Fire to do the recruitment interms of the Act and submit a report to the Commission.To therefore say there is interference is incorrect”, he said.
When asked to clarify if his law-firm SP Mamba Attorneys received favors from the Office of the Chief Justice, the CSC Chairman said, the CJ cannot stoop so low and interfere with the processes at Magistrates Courts.
“The Chief Justice does not owe me any favors.He has no reason to stoop so low and interfere with process at the Magistrate Courts.My law-firm like any other lawfirms represent clients in court. Court process is guided by procedure interms of the rules of court.Whosoever is peddling these lies Nkhosi must just drink Panado and rest,” said the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC).
On another note, it has been disclosed that, the politically motivated arrest of the Under Secretary(US) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was strategically orchestrated to justify a disciplinary process and subsequent removal by the powerful and politically connected syndicate.
Civil Service Commission(CSC) Chairman Simanga Mamba.