MBABANE:Savannah Maziya,the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) allegedly refused to appear before Liqoqo,the King’s Advisory Council after being summoned about two(2) weeks ago for an order stopping her from removing Vumile Dlamini,the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP).
It has been disclosed that,Dlamini who stands accused of looting over R100million thus collapsing the Science and Technology Park,had activated his royal connections in an attempt to intimidate the Information Minister.
A senior member of Liqoqo told this Swaziland News on Saturday evening that, Prince Bandzile,a member of the King’s Advisory Council allegedly tried to use the name of the King to influence the Council to stop the removal of Vumile Dlamini as Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP).
“The matter was brought to us by Prince Bandzile who claimed the instruction suggesting that we must work on it and prevent the Minister from removing the CEO came from the King.Minister Savannah was summoned to appear before Liqoqo but she refused and went on to remove the CEO”, said a member of the King’s Advisory Council whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.
But King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane told this Swaziland News on Saturday evening that,the King never instructed Liqoqo to intimidate the Information Minister and prevent her from performing her administrative duties within her Ministry.
Responding to this publication,Simelane maintained his earlier comment suggesting that,the King will not interfere in the matter despite the fact that,Vumile Dlamini is a member of the royal family.
“We have no record of the King protecting members of the royal family from being disciplined for their wrong doings,our argument it was and still is based on that.We are not aware too that Liqoqo has made moves to thwart an administrative decision on the matter in question by the line Ministry.We are,however alive to the fact that individuals and State bodies do use the King’s name to grind-out decisions favorable to their blue-eyed suspects.In this case, the allegation is that his Advisory Council has cornered the Minister for ICT from taking action.That’s not the King as it were, by definition,advice is not an order,and we do not expect the King to be a conveyer-belt for a decision taken out of order”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
Vumile Dlamini,the removed Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP) CEO declined to comment about the matter.
It has been disclosed that,despite a warning from the King’s Advisory Council to stop removing the CEO and appear before it to explain,Minister Savannah is alleged to have went on to prepare a Cabinet paper seeking approval to appoint Acting Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Dr Andile Methula,after refusing to renew Vumile Dlamini’s contract.
Minister Savannah Maziya is alleged to have not only refused to appear before Liqoqo but went on to tell the Chairman Paul Dlamini to identify one member and that,the Chairman and the identified member,must come to see her in her office and explain why she was being summoned.
The independent minded Information, Communication and Technology Minister had earlier pledged the remove all alleged corrupt administrators within the Government parastatals under her Ministry and ensure that,the State entities are financially stable, productive and independent.
“The Chairman was very angry and felt undermined by the Minister,he then made efforts to see Prime Minister Russell Dlamini who said he was also having challenges in controlling Minister Savannah Maziya and if he can get the King’s approval, he can fire her together with four(4) other Ministers who are opposing him in Cabinet”, said a royal insider.
It is alleged that,Prince Bandzile told the Liqoqo King’s Advisory Council that,he had an order from the King stopping the Minister from removing Vumile Dlamini as Chief Executive Officer(CEO),Dlamini is the grandson of King Sobhuza and the son of Prince Vovo.
The over R100million fraud and corruption scandal and other alleged corrupt cases within the Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP),was exclusively exposed by this Swaziland News about two(2) weeks ago and thereafter, action was urgently taken by the Minister and the Board of Directors.
Minister Savannah Maziya(pic: Gov).