By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Macanjana Motsa,the Acting Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) allegedly lied that, the e-Government system was facing technical challenges when in fact,it was a systematic sabotage to prevent emaSwati from registering death certificates and conducting funerals this weekend during Incwala ritual ceremony.

Incwala was held on Saturday 30th December 2023, Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe declared a public holiday and no activity was expected in the country as some shops were forced to close.

It has been disclosed that, the ritual ceremony comes with strict rules particularly when it comes to deaths and funerals hence the systematic sabotage to frustrate emaSwati and stopped them from conducting funerals.

An insider very close to the matter alerted this Swaziland News to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sabotage of the e-Government System and it was discovered that, the sabotage was allegedly intentionally.

“The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology would like to notify the public about technical issues that are currently affecting the e-Government Service Centres, including the Ministry of Home Affairs(IDs,Births and Death Certificates, Travel Documents and Boarder Control),the Treasury Department under the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce,Industry and Trade(renewal of licenses) and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.Our engineers are working on restoring these essential Government services”, reads the statement released by ICT Acting PS Macanjana Motsa.

It is alleged that the system was systematically sabotaged even in other Ministries to cover-up the allegations suggesting that,the intention was actually ritually motivated.

The eSwatini Government has been tempering with State infrastructure including the internet system to push political agendas, the latest decision was to systematically stop funerals just enable Mswati to conduct rituals.

“The system was restored on Friday around 11:50am and already, it was impossible to process Death Certificates.But I can refer you to Ntokozo Mngometulu who is one of the supervisors of the system said one of the experts close to the matter”, said the insider.

But Ntokozo Mngometulu, the Information Technology(IT) expert in the Ministry of Home Affairs referred comments to the Ministry responsible for the eGovernment System.

“Sorry.I am not the one responsible to discuss such matters. We have the ministry responsible to  and may you contact them”, said the IT Supervisor in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A questionnaire was sent to Macanjana Motsa, the Acting Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT)where she was asked to clarify the allegations, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

But an insider within the Ministry of ICT said he/she(to protect identity) was not sure if the technical challenges were linked to Incwala or the ongoing challenges caused by failure to pay suppliers,as the system was moved from them to be administered by the Royal Science Technology Park(RSTP).

“Government Computer Services Department was removed from Government to be under RSTP loyi parastatal yaICT kungakaplanwa and it’s a blunder now, suppliers akabhadaleki”, said the insider.

On Friday evening, Mancoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade released a statement where he announced the closure of all businesses on Saturday,he said businesses are expected to operate until 1200hrs.

Reached for comments,Brian Sangweni, the Spokesperson of eSwatini’s largest and main political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said,it was very unfortunate to note that, emaSwati had to bear extra funeral costs as a result of the alleged Incwala systematic government system sabotage.

“You will recall that one of the King’s wives died but Mswati did not stop the funeral, he continued with his ritual ceremonies as if nothing had happened.Now, emaSwati had to bear extra funeral costs just because an e-Government System was allegedly tempered with to accommodate Incwala rituals, we better-off without the King”, said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.