MBABANE:Savannah Maziya, the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology(ICT) says, there’s a culture of stealing public funds with impunity in the public administration.
Addressing members of the Parliament Senate Portfolio Committee under the Ministry of ICT last week at Esibayeni Lodge, the Minister reminded the Senators that, the public positions “they are currently holding are an honor” adding that, they must make them honorable.
The Minister said shortly after her appointment, she discovered rampant corruption within the various public companies under the Ministry.
As as result, the Minister said she opted to appoint Board members who are credible not those who are powerful and politically connected because some of these people, have adopted the culture of stealing.
“We didn’t hire who is who or who is known, we hired who can work. We hired people who can give us clean management.We have hired people who will be responsible and ensuring that our parastatals work as they should.I am not going to lie to you, I came into a situation where there’s a lot of sickness with many of our companies. So we need to clean from the top to the bottom. So hiring these Boards of experienced and credible people was very critical for us to start the journey of cleansing ourselves, of running government as if it matters, of running government responsibly.Asikafiki ka-Hulumende kutokweba sitosebentela emaSwati.We have not come to these positions to steal from those who have less than we do,we have come to enrich them so that, when we leave after our terms are finished, they are better-off and that makes us better people.The habit that I seem to see of thinking that these positions are a road to wealth sifo lesibi maSwati.Lama-positions lawa are an honor and we must make them honorable.Nabatsi Honorable Savannah be honorable”, said the ICT Minister when addressing the Senators.
ICT Minister Savannah Maziya.