MBABANE:Prince Dzabulemanti has been rejected as Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Royal Science Technology Park(RSTP) by Information Minister Savannah Maziya despite an alleged directive from Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini suggesting that,the Prince must be appointed as per a royal command.
Prince Dzabulemanti is the son of Prince Nqaba,the son of the late King Sobhuza and Inkhosikati LaFakudze.
On another note, Prince Nqaba was born from the Royal House of Prince Phocumtsetfo, Prince Makhukhumuka, Princess Ntfombindze and Prince David, the former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs who was later appointed as the King’s Advisor.
It has been disclosed that,before Incwala ceremony and around October 2024, Prince Lindani allegedly approached his father King Mswati on behalf of his brother Prince Dzabulemanti for a royal command directing Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to employ the Prince as the new CEO of the Science and Technology Park.
Senior royal insiders close to King Mswati confirmed to this publication that indeed, the “order directing the PM to ensure that Prince Dzabulemanti is eventually appointed was issued”.
But Information Minister Savannah Maziya is alleged to have told the PM that, “the King should have spoken to her directly if the royal order was legitimate” and subsequently refused to employ the Prince.
“In fact both the PM and DPM Thuli Dladla were ordered to communicate the royal order to the ICT Minister and engage her but, Savannah refused watsi ngeke kwenteke loko kutawubekwa CEO lophase ema-interviews and recommended by the Board.Watsi nangabe le-order ibuya eNkhosini mbamba angamane ayekele lokuba ngu-Minister.The Minister made it clear that, she “wants someone” who will transform the Technology Park and develop the country digitally”, said the royal insider.
But King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane when responding to this Swaziland News on Friday morning clarified that, the King does not appoint CEOs for the State owned entities adding that, “it is the responsibility of the Minister to identify a deserving candidate” through clearly defined procedures.
“Our experience is that the King does not appoint CEOs on behalf of ministries.It is the responsibility of each line Ministry to identify a deserving candidate through clearly defined procedures.We will continue to believe that this has not changed until there is evidence to prove otherwise,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
Both Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo and Prince Dzabulemanti declined to comment about the matter.
But one of the senior members of the Royal Science and Technology Park Board of Directors told this publication that, the process to appoint the new CEO was ongoing adding that, Prince Dzabulemanti was among those who applied for the position.
“He applied and forwarded his CV but the Minister made it clear that, as the Board we must work independently and recommend a deserving and qualifying candidate not because the person is royalty”, said the Board member.
It is alleged that,the Information Minister went as far as thretening to resign if the Prime Minister continues to interfere with her administrative duties within the Ministry and, the PM subsequently stopped the attempt to impose Prince Dzabulemanti.
Reached for comments by this publication, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi applauded the Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) Minister for rejecting the candidate imposed by the Prime Minister adding that, Savannah Maziya has demonstrated understanding of the principles of Corporate Governance.
“This is a clear demonstration that the Minister understands the principles of good governance because recruitment must be conducted by the Board.It is the Board that identifies a vacancy and the Board can fill that vacancy by hiring an independent consultant and then recommend the deserving candidate to the Minister for appointment. It is dangerous to impose a candidate because what if that candidate does not qualify and is incompetent?”, said the lawyer.
Prince Dzabulemanti(pic: supplied).