By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Sammy Dlamini, the SwaziMed Board Chairperson has been accused of colluding and systematically protecting Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Peter Simelane amid serious allegations linking Simelane to the looting of millions of public funds within the country’s largest medical scheme.

SwaziMed has been facing financial challenges for sometime now amid alleged rampant corruption and this, resulted to some private hospitals refusing to accept patients with SwaziMed Medical Aid cards as the medical scheme was failing to pay for services on time.

It has been disclosed that, after this Swaziland News published an investigative article earlier on Tuesday morning, exposing the alleged looting within SwaziMed, more than six(6) Board members suggested an urgent meeting that was to be held at Hilton Hotel at 5:30 on Tuesday afternoon.

But Sammy Dlamini, the Board Chairman subsequently sent a message informing the Board members that, “the meeting has been cancelled as he wanted to meet Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula” first to discuss the challenges within SwaziMed before any Board meeting in this regard.

“Following today’s publication on Swaziland News, this matter has been topical within Cabinet corridors, prompting a conversation today with the PS and the Honourable Minister.In my discussions and clarifications,I have given them the letter which was written by Mr Peter Simelane and the response written by Mr Sibusiso Nhleko which forms the nexus of the publication.A provisional meeting with the Ministry of Health has been set for Thursday or Friday after which we will have our special meeting. Therefore the meeting today has been postponed,” reads a message in part, sent by the Board Chairman to the all the Board members on Tuesday.

But the message from the Chairman did not go down well with independent Board members who insisted that, the meeting must be held and as a result, they proceeded to Hilton Hotel only to find that a booking was not made hence their meeting eventually took place at Nedbank Headquarters on Tuesday evening in the absence of Sammy Dlamini.

Board members who attended meeting include Sibusiso Nhleko, the Eswatini MTN Head of Corporate Services, Vusi Khumalo, Leonard Nxumalo, Bheki Maziya who was chairing the meeting, Muzi Magagula and Edward Sithole.

But despite the urgecy of the matter amid alleged looting within the medical scheme, Board members representing Government at SwaziMed,refused to attend the meeting saying, Chairman Sammy Dlamini must be afforded an opportunity to meet the Health Minister to discuss the issues and challenges at SwaziMed.

But the Board members who attended the meeting that was then held at Nedbank Headquarters noted that, Chairman Sammy Dlamini might be complicit to the alleged looting of public funds at SwaziMed hence “the systematic delays and cancellation of Board meetings seeking to address and hold the Chief Executive Officer accountable”.

Dlamini is alleged to be in possession of a Credit Card that was presented to him by the CEO and, some Board members said they will no-longer tolerate his delaying tactics in the matter.

“It is also becoming clear that the tactics used by the Chairman and PO to stifle progress in solving the current crisis are becoming dangerous,” reads minutes in part, adopted by the Board members subsequent to the meeting that not attended by Chairman Sammy Dlamini.

Peter Simelane, the SwaziMed CEO declined to comment about the matter but, Board Chairman Sammy Dlamini confirmed to this Swaziland News that, there “are challenges within the medical scheme” adding that, efforts were being made to address and resolve the crisis.

“We can only appeal to you to give us time while we resolve the issues internally and thereafter, we will share the outcomes,” said the Board Chairman.

Peter Simelane, the SwaziMed CEO stands accused of looting millions of public funds within the country’s largest medical scheme and, in an effort to evade accountability, he attempted to fire Board member Sibusiso Nhleko who was demanding accountability of the public funds. 

Simelane allegedly violated corporate governance principles in his failed attempt to dismiss a Board member, the SwaziMed Chief Executive Officer accounts to the Board of Directors.

On another note, the Board members further resolved to consult Business Eswatini(BE) and then take CEO Peter Simelane to court to challenge his latest decisions where he elevated himself above the Governing Board amid refusal to account for the public funds.