By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly bullied and subsequently ordered Banele Nyamane, the Eswatini Sugar Association(ESA) Chief Executive Officer(CEO) to award a multimillion sugar export tender to his alleged Rwandan business partners.

It has been disclosed that, the Rwandan businessmen who were in the country from the 20th to the 24th October 2024, first met the Prime Minister whom they allegedly know in Rwanda where he was previously employed.

The Prime Minister is alleged to have then called the Eswatini Sugar Association CEO, directing him to meet the Rwandans and assist them with everything they might need without specifying what exactly the foreign businessmen were looking for.

Upon meeting the CEO, the Rwandan businessmen allegedly demanded to source sugar from the country at a very low price but,the Chief Executive Officer told them that, “he can’t help as the price of sugar is regulated”.

Information gathered by this Swaziland News further suggests that, the CEO refused to sign any deal with the Rwandan businessmen and the furious ‘investors’ went back to the PM to report that, they were not receiving any assistance from the Sugar Association Chief Executive Officer.

It was then that, the PM called the Sugar Association CEO again and allegedly bullied him,saying the Rwandans were actually his business partners in that country and therefore, he must assist them.

The Prime Minister then labelled Nyamane as incompetent for failing to assist “his people from Rwanda”.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Saturday morning,Banele Nyamane, the Eswatini Sugar Association CEO said, he can’t comment about the engagements with the Rwandan businessmen as discussions with clients remain private. 

“I can’t been seen commenting about that meeting because engagements with our clients remain private”, said the Chief Executive Officer.

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini declined to comment about the matter.

It has been disclosed that, the arrival of the Rwandan businessmen further triggered tension between the Prime Minister and his alleged friend, SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff as the Rwandans “are also eyeing tenders” to supply drugs to the Ministry of Health.

“The PM also wants Ashraff to partner with the Rwandans and supply drugs but Ashraff is vigorously against that. So there’s a disagreement between Ashraff and the PM, we don’t know how they will resolve this because they are alleged close friends”, said a source within Cabinet.

Efforts to reach Swazipharm Director Kareem Ashraff proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

When asked to share a view on this matter, Wandile Dludlu, the Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said it has become a norm for politicians appointed by King Mswati to manipulate powerful positions for self-enrichment.

“It has been a norm for politicians appointed by King Mswati to manipulate powerful positions for self-enrichment and, the Prime Minister is doing just that because he knows he won’t occupy that position forever”, said the PUDEMO Deputy President.