By Zweli Martin Dlamini

It is absurd for Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to incubate SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff who allegedly looted billions of public funds,resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals and then plot to arrest Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Khumalo and Civil Service Commission(CSC)Chairman Simanga Mamba based on administrative disagreements.

Indeed, one would conclude that, its administrative disagreements because we haven’t received substantive and/or convincing evidence alleging corruption against the AG and the CSC Chairman but, we do have a forensic report with evidence linking Kareem Ashraff, an alleged handler of Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini.

It is therefore, important to warn the PM once again not to weaponize State institutions against those who disagree with him, in every working environment,there would be normal administrative disagreements but, that does not mean, those with power must yield same on subordinates.

I have a series of Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s recorded conversations where he was plotting against others even in Cabinet, Russell thinks being appointed as Prime Minister means he has monopoly over intelligence and therefore, must dictate to everyone.

I remember the words of Phesheya Dube, the now Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) on State capture and political syndicates.

Dube, the then Director of Media had summoned me to discuss contents of a story where I was exposing a public figure accusing him of State capture, he said “ubobacaphela nalabantfu labakunika tindzaba accusing others of capturing the State, basuke nabo bafuna loku-capturisha”.

Whether Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo and the CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba is corrupt or not, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini is not an institution tasked with fighting corruption,we have the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) in this country and it must work independently and/or without being influenced.

Even if those accused of corruption are guilty in the court of public opinion and/or on a balance of probabilities, we won’t allow the Prime Minister to manipulate State institutions to fight those who disagree with him.

We have been consistently exposing Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala on alleged corruption but, after receiving evidence alleging that the PM was allegedly manipulating the ACC to arrest him, we exposed that because even if there could be allegations of corruption against any individual, the investigation must be fair, credible and without any political influence or ulterior motives.

In this regard, the Prime Minister must just understand that, a Government is a State institution with departments and/or arms of the State with certain regulated powers as stated in the doctrine of the separation of powers.

Perhaps, it is worth mentioning that, there was a valid reason why a Government was structured like that, Government powers cannot be centred around one person.

This is exactly what we are complaining about with King Mswati, power must be subject to accountability and the separation of powers enhances that

and seek to among others, promote transparency and accountability in the public administration.

Even if the PM would want to implement a decision, the AG is better positioned or privileged to say “no this might attract a lawsuit for Government, let’s do it this way and should problems arise, we will justify it with this constitutional provision”.

The AG in the Government Principal Legal Advisor and commands the power of influence based on the fact that, all State decisions must be implemented in accordance with the law.

Even the King consults the AG on certain legal issues before making an announcement, it’s the power that comes with the position and the Prime Minister must accept that and navigate within the State Departments when implementing decisions, playing dirty politics will complicate his ability to lead the Government.

On the other hand, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission is the employer of Government, whether you like him or not, that’s the power delegated to him by the appointing authority for now and, the PM must engage and convince him on certain decisions.

This tendency of arresting individuals based on political or administrative disagreement will not work for the current PM, maybe, it worked for the late Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini.

Therefore, if the CSC Chairman and the AG are allegedly corrupt, the ACC must investigate that without any political interference.

State institutions were established provide services to the people not to be manipulated by those in power for their own political interests.