By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Bhekizwe Maveni Gwebu, the Chief editor of the State owned Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services(EBIS) allegedly abused his powers and allocated himself an international trip that comes with about five hundred thousand Rands(R500,000.00) as a traveling allowance.

As a result, the Chief editor will travel with the King to cover the United Nations(UN) General Assembly next week and worth-noting, such trips are normally covered by journalists appointed by the same Chief editor.

But this time, the Chief editor decided to appoint himself and will benefit from his own decision thus violating Section 27(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006.

State journalists within the Radio Station told this publication that, the powers to appoint or recommend a journalist who will travel with the King to cover the UN General Assembly vests with Maveni Gwebu as the Chief editor.

“So we were surprised upon realizing that he has appointed himself as the journalist who will cover the UN General Assembly,” said one of the journalists.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Chief editor Bhekizwe Maveni Gwebu denied appointing himself as a journalist who will cover the UN General Assembly but clarified that, he has been assigned by the authorities of the Radio Station.

“Sivusele editor, there’s no way one can appoint himself here, there are authorities of the Radio Station with the final word, deciding who must cover the UN General Assembly,” said the EBIS Chief editor.

Deputy Director Veli Simelane referred comments to Director Sabelo Dlamini who was not immediately available for a comment.

But senior insiders within the Radio Station told this publication that, the Director “normally consults his Deputy Veli Simelane” before taking a decision assigning a journalist who will cover the UN General Assembly and other international events to be attended by the King.

“The Deputy Director normally consults Maveni Gwebu as the Chief editor and Gwebu will recommend a journalist to the Deputy Director who will then, consult Director Sabelo Dlamini. The final decision is made by the Director but the recommendation comes from Maveni Gwebu. So we can conclude that he recommended himself this time”, said the insider.

King Mswati is highly expected to travel to the UN General Assembly next week, EBIS Chief editor Maveni Gwebu and other members of the delegation will pocket about R500,000.00 each as a traveling allowance.