MBABANE:Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini is at loggerheads with his Principal Secretary(PS) and close friend Betram Steward, a serious disagreement erupted in Cabinet on Thursday.
It is alleged that, the bone of contention “is the leaking” of critical State information about the Prime Minister to this Swaziland editor Zweli Martin Dlamini which the PM said,he knew very well that such information was only known by his PS and Head of Security Steven Dlamini.
But it has been disclosed that on Thursday and, after being confronted by the PM, Principal Secretary Betram Steward then went straight to the Head of Security demanding to know how he will now work with the Prime Minister if he suspects that, he leaks State information to Zwemart.
“Usebenta njani-nje nemuntfu lohle akusola kutsi ukhuluma nabo-Zwemart(meaning:How do you work with someone who suspects that you sometimes speak to Zwemart)”,said the Principal Secretary when speaking to the Head of Security Steven Dlamini, the information about the confrontation was leaked to this publication.
The PM allegedly complained about two(2) articles where this publication reported prior that, “he will leave the country to address the Pan African Parliament(PaP) in South Africa” and another one where Ministers are alleged to have presented cattle to him as ‘tetfulo’.
“How did Zwemart knew that I will be leaving the country to address the Pan African Parliament even before I travelled to South Africa, that information was only known by my Principal Secretary and there was no way Zwemart could know where I would be without having access to my diary through the PS. Then there’s a story of cattle presented by the Ministers, again that information was with the PS”, the PM allegedly said when questioning Principal Secretary Betram Steward.
Efforts were then allegedly made by the Head of Security Steven Dlamini to try and mediate between the two(2) however, both the PM and his PS appeared to be angry against each other, it remains unclear if they eventually smoked a peace pipe as Steward was then seen taking out his cigarette complaining how he will now work with the PM after such serious accusations.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.
The Prime Minister and PS Betram Steward are known close friends and, they allegedly colluded to loot millions of public funds during the COVID-19 pandemic while the PM was working as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA).
Steward, the then Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, awarded himself tenders to supply schools during the pandemic, the PM subsequently assisted Steward by stopping the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) from arresting him.
On another note, editor Zweli Martin Dlamini warned the Prime Minister to stop accusing individuals in Cabinet saying they “are leaking information to him”, the editor said, identity of sources will always remain confidential.
“The Prime Minister can remove Steward but we will continue to gain access to his information and he will then realize that, he was wrongly accusing him. He must just send him on leave for a few weeks just to see if the flow of information will stop, we are living in an era of technology, humans are part of, not the only sources of information”, said the editor.
PS Betram Steward.