Corruption involves abuse of power for dishonest gain and therefore,it cannot be fair to suggest that,the Anti-Corruption Task Team established by Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini must report to him,like ex-PM Barnabas Dlamini,he might use it to target his political enemies.
Russell Mmiso Dlamini was competing with others within the royal family for the position of PM and is yet to be questioned by Members of Parliament(MP's) on issues of accountability.
We don’t want therefore, to see a repeat of Barnabas era where MPs like Marwick Khumalo and Charles Myeza were targeted merely for demanding accountability from the Executive.
A whole Prime Minister who is accused of stealing about R180million at the National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA) wants the Anti-Corruption Task Team to report to him,this automatically gives him immunity and the process cannot be fair.
We complained about Chief Justice(CJ) Bheki Maphalala for establishing the probe into the Master of the High Court’s Office and the Commission is expected to submit a report to him, this country has a Parliament with constitutional powers to demand accountability from the other arms of the State.
Parliament is a collective, it might be difficult for MPs to direct the Task Team who to investigate without an open debate,the Legislative arm normally refer matters to law enforcement agencies after vigorous debates and adoption of reports.
Then the question is; how can one man Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini who is also an alleged political thief,establish an Anti-Corruption Task Team that will report to him?.
That Task Team must continue with its mandate but it must report progress to Parliament like the Office of the Auditor General(AG), in the process,suspects must be handed over to the courts.
Russell Mmiso Dlamini must be very careful,he must not come here to repeat what was done by Barnabas, the former PM had a Task Team that include former National Commissioner Isaac Magagula, former Anti Corruption CommissionACC) Commissioner Thanda Mngwengwe and the then Chief Justice(CJ) Michael Ramodibedi before a fallout.
After Sibusiso Shongwe,the then Justice Minister opposed Barnabas in Cabinet on administrative matters, the ACC was unleashed on him.
Former King’s Advisor Sandlane Zwane who gave Barnabas a hard-time both in Parliament and within Liqoqo, the King’s Advisory Council, was also arrested for supporting or sympathizing with the then Justice Minister Sibusiso Shongwe.
The Anti-Corruption Task Team recently announced by the PM is more than welcome to investigate corruption but,it must not report to the Prime Minister who appointed it,these are basic principles of accountability.
The Task Team,if established by the PM with an open mind,it must also investigate him as a known R180million fraud and corruption suspect at NDMA as per the report of the Auditor General(AG).
We have a Parliament in this country and Parliament is not “person” but an institution with elected individuals.
Fighting corruption is a process that we must all support or embrace but,we cannot have a Task Team that will report to another political thief.
Dr. Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini made our lives miserable in this country and created a culture of corruption marred by political bullying.
Therefore, anything that walks,smiles and talks like Barnabas must be destroyed and thrown to the nearest political dustbin.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini.