By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prince Simelane released a press statement, defending Prime Minister Russell Mmiso regarding the the Anti Corruption Task Team whose establishment is clearly, outside the confines of the legal framework governing the fight against corruption.

Perhaps it is important to state that, even though the fight against corruption should be supported by Government and the entire Nation, it’s equally important to guard against the abuse and the manipulation of the State law enforcement institution to fight political battles. 

The fight against corruption lost credibility immediately after Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini announced a Task Team, the PM is an alleged political thief with no credibility to establish a Task Team tasked with fighting corruption.

The Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) is a State institution established in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006 and, the law enforcement agency must operate independently and/or without being influenced by a sitting Prime Minister.

Prince Simelane as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, must produce a law empowering the PM to establish an Anti Corruption Task Team, the justification suggesting that, it was established as per King Mswati’s command is an outright lie.

King Mswati commanded Government to fight corruption and the duty of the Executive Arm of Government in this regard, is to provide resources including a sufficient budget to the ACC through the Ministry of Justice and then, allow the institution to work independently.

The PM is an alleged corrupt thief who stands accused of stealing over R200million while working as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA), he was not alone in all this but colluded with a royal linked syndicate of high profile people who lobbied the King to appoint him as the Prime Minister.

Kareem Ashraff, the SwaziPharm Director and an alleged friend to the PM, allegedly looted billions within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals and the death of emaSwati.

But the PM has been obstructing or defeating the ends of justice by stopping the ACC from arresting Ashraff, on the other hand, he is plotting and unleashing the ACC against those who disagree with him in Cabinet and other State Departments.

This means the independence of the ACC has been compromised by the involvement of the PM, let us allow the ACC to work independently and fight corruption within the confines of the law, the Prime Minister must stay away from the operations of the Anti Corruption Commission.