By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Alpheous Nxumalo,the retiring Government Spokesperson might be the last State Public Relations Officer(PRO) to work at the Cabinet Offices as royal insiders close to the King told this publication that,all Government communications might soon be handled by the relevant Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT).

Alpheous Nxumalo is highly expected to retire in the next coming three(3) weeks, he was born on the 4th April 1964 and will reach the retirement age of sixty(60) on the 4th April 2024.

A source within the King’s Office told this publication that,the King is very concerned with the lack of diplomacy within the Office of the Government Spokesperson and efforts are being made to restore its integrity.

“In many countries,the Ministry of Information,Communication and Technology(ICT) is the Ministry responsible for Government communications and therefore, there are proposals that, the Department of the Spokesperson be moved to the Ministry of ICT particularly because the current Minister seems to understand communication.You will note that, the Minister was seen visiting media houses shortly after being appointed, that’s how you work with the media, you build relations because apart from holding government accountable,the media is expected to be responsible and market the country. I am not sure if the proposal will be approved but this is what is being discussed”, said the source within the King’s Office.

Efforts to reach Senator Savannah Maziya,the Minister of Information proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Reached for comments, Bheki Makhubu, the editor of the Nation Magazine wondered what difference will it make to move the Department of State Communications to the Ministry of ICT and why in first place was it placed under the Prime Minister’s(PM) Office.

“Maybe to strengthen your story you need to find out why in the first place the Department of State Communications was placed under the Prime Minister’s Office, what was the intention because there’s a relevant Ministry. Otherwise, I don’t understand what difference will this make and why in the first place, State information must come through the Prime Minister’s Office”, said the Nation Magazine editor.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

On another note, the retiring Government Spokesperson had arrogantly vowed that, “he is going nowhere”  and will not retire.

This was after he told the United States(US) to back-off as the King and Government was not afraid of sanctions.