By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly held a high level secret meeting with the country’s State Intelligence Unit where he confirmed that, his recent scandal exposed by this Swaziland News where he stands accused of issuing diplomatic passports to Zimbabwean fugitives has landed him in trouble with BakaNgwane.

In the secret meeting held this week in Mbabane and leaked to this journalist by senior Intelligence Officers, the PM stated that, he is struggling to strengthen a working relationship with high profile people who are key in the governance of the country as most of them are now avoiding him.

The PM named Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula, Civil Service Commission(CSC) Chairman Simanga Mamba and Army Commander Mashikilisane Fakudze as some of the key people who are avoiding him while some are pretending to be with him.

The information leaked to this publication further suggests that, during the meeting, the Prime Minister openly told the Intelligence Officers that, he would like Reverend Senzo Hlatjwako to replace retired Principal Secretary(PS) in his Office Bertram Stewart, Hlatswako is the husband of Misiwe Jele, the Assistant Immigration Officer who was recently arrested for allegedly issuing passports and permits to foreigners.

But the Prime Minister stated that, he is currently struggling to facilitate the employment of Reverend Hlatjwako as his Principal Secretary because CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba is refusing to meet him and recommend the appointment to the King.

It was in the midst of the discussions where the PM stated that, he was trying other alternatives to deal with CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba, he openly told the Intelligence Unit that, through the then Technology Park CEO Prince Vumile, he allegedly instructed RSTP officers to hack the emails of Simanga Mamba and Auditor General Timothy Matsebula to obtain more evidence and strengthen a case he is building against them with the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC).

But the PM pleaded with the senior police intelligence officers not to ‘sell him to Zwemart’ saying he was sharing such information in confidence.

“Once we succeeded in arresting Simanga Mamba, then the Auditor General will be vulnerable because it is Mamba who is protecting him. I will then convince the King to appoint a new CSC Chairman who will be loyal to me so that, I can be able to employ Hlatjwako as a Principal Secretary and further reshuffle Principal Secretaries. As the situation stands, I can’t work, these people who are opposing me within Government are united and a huge syndicate,” said the PM during the meeting.

The PM who recently told the State owned Swazi Observer that, there’s a cabal operating within Government, further told the Intelligence Unit that, he was trying to mend his relationship with Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) Minister Savannah Maziya, Commerce Minister Mancoba Khumalo and Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg. He said these Ministers normally pretend to be with him in public but, “they are actually not willing to work with him”.

The Prime Minister said, “he has been asking and hoping for a Cabinet reshuffle but, the King would just frown whenever he speaks about reshuffling these Ministers adding that, the King told him that, “he is tired of listening to people who approach him with lies about others” hence the need to obtain substantive evidence.

Bu the PM insisted and literally begged the intelligence officers not to leak the information saying the story published by this Swaziland News about the diplomatic passports issued to the Zimbabwean fugitives, is shaking his position as the Head of Government.

A questionnaire was sent to the Prime Minister, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

On another note,this publication is analyzing part of the information and details of the intelligence meeting to identify other information of public interest.

The Prime Minister stands accused of issuing diplomatic passports to three(3) Zimbabwean fugitives; Elvis Mugari, Kudakwashe Muchero and Simbarashe Muchero, he was using these fugitives as his own ‘State Intelligence Unit’ after refusing to adhere to genuine advise from State Security experts urging him to terminate ties with these fugitives as they were not credible.

But now it has emerged that, the fugitives have been providing false information to the PM, they subsequently disappeared with over R2million public funds paid to them by the Prime Minister.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said, the PM found himself in this unfortunate situation because he refused to listen and work with other independent organs of the State but instead, he opted to dictate.

“As the Head of Government, he does not have powers to interfere with independent organs of the State. The mere fact that, he held a secret meeting with the Intelligence Unit to plot against others within the Government demonstrates his incompetence because State organs operate independently and he is the Head of Government.Perhaps let me advise him to call a mass meeting with all the organs of the State including Chief Executive Officers(CEOs) of the State companies and engage them on a Government Development Strategy. Thereafter, he must allow those State organs to operate independently while pushing a Government development agenda under his administration. You don’t dictate in Government, you engage,” said the lawyer.