By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Bertram Stewart,the retiring Principal Secretary(PS) in the Prime Minister’s Office has a highly confidential investigation file within the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC), he allegedly abused his powers while he was PS in the Ministry of Education to loot over R20million COVID-19 donated and public funds.

The monies were allocated to assist schools during the pandemic, however, the PS grabbed the monies for himself through companies to which he had indirect interest, Government suppliers were sidelined.

The investigation as contained in the ACC file further uncovered that, Stewart went as far as using his alleged son and some Chinese nationals to supply schools with equipment and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, he would then authorize the payments in his capacity as the PS and, receive his millions on the ‘sidelines’.

Worth-noting, the over R20million was part of the R210million that allegedly went missing within the National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA) under the administration of then Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Russell Mmiso Dlamini who was later appointed as the Prime Minister by King Mswati.

The missing R210million was uncovered by Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula and the PM has beenn avoiding to appear before the Parliament Public Accounts Committee(PAC) to clarify the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the missing public funds.

Even though the investigation by the ACC was long concluded, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini allegedly blocked the Anti Corruption Commission from arresting Stewart and, it remains to be seen if he will be grabbed after retirement next month.

ACC Spokesperson Jabu Phakathi and Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.

But human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi when speaking to this Swaziland News earlier, said the ACC must be independent without being controlled by the Prime Minister.

The lawyer accused the PM of “defying the King who commanded him to fight corruption by interfering in the functioning of the ACC.

“Then you ask yourself; if he is defying his boss being the King who commanded him to fight corruption, what does this mean?”, said the human rights lawyer.

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini established an Anti Corruption Task Team but, it is alleged that, “the ACC is being controlled by the PM and ordered to investigate certain individuals” while halting other investigations that might link the PM.