By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:Zweli Martin Dlamini,the Director of Zwemart Investments(Pty) Ltd says he can pay the Nine Thousand Rands(R9,000.00) owed to Government even today but is restricted by the terrorism law from doing so.

This comes after the Times reported that,Dlamini’s company is owing taxpayers after Parliament through the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) ordered that,he must back the money.

Dlamini’s company was awarded a tender about ten(10) years ago, to install a software at St Marks Primary that was subsequently queried by the Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula.

“I am aware of a ruling by the PAC ordering my company Zwemart Investments to pay back R10,000.00 not the R17,000.00 as reported by the Times,they must read the ruling again.I only paid R1,000.00 about ten(10) years ago because I was financially struggling as the Government has been fighting me for all these years trying to ensure that I am forced into poverty.But now I’m working,we can still engage with Government so that they can receive the balance,however,to the best of my knowledge, the Suppression of Terrorism Act does not allow Government to receive money from a person declared as a terrorist so they won’t get the money.Maybe they will get it after Freedom Day once the terrorism proscription has been withdrawn.I could have just paid it, it’s just that I don’t want to break the law or assist Government in breaking the law by receiving money from a ‘terrorist’. So in short I will wait for them to do the right thing if they want the money.They tied themselves, so they won’t get the money and any Government official demanding money from a terrorist is violating the law. I am not allowed to pay anything to Government currently,I only pay VAT when doing shopping or legal costs if ordered by the courts.If I want I can also challenge even the legal costs”, said the Zwemart Director.

Dlamini then urged Times captured journalists not to be excited by a R9,000.00 owed to Government just because the name Zwemart is involved.

“That’s why I’m giving the story more mileage because I’m not afraid of paying R9,000.00 but I’m waiting for a document legalizing the payment so that Government cannot violate her own terrorism laws”, said the Director.

Dlamini said the Tinkhundla Government can reject anything from a person with a different political view except for money,he maintained that,Government won’t get the money without proper documentation.