By Musa Mdluli

LOBAMBA: Manzi Zwane, the Vice Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) has revealed how R15million Taiwan donated funds were allegedly looted by Luke Lushaba, the Chief Fire Officer(CFO) who colluded with Directors of a South African company, the monies were meant to purchase a vehicle for the Fire Department.

Members of the PAC had gone to South Africa-Pretoria last month to follow-up on this matter as per the report of the Auditor General(AG), when they made the discovery.

Timothy Matsebula had highlighted in his 2023 report that, the Fire Department purchased a vehicle in 2021 that was never delivered three(3) years later, the money was allegedly paid by the Chief Fire Officer in the company Director’s personal account.

MP Zwane told the House of Assembly on Thursday that, when they visited the company premises, they discovered that, the money was paid in a personal account belonging to one of the Directors but, the company then made a commitment to manufacture and deliver the truck.

“It is clear that there was a collusion between local Government officials and the Directors of the company in all this and, the person who was in authority and signed for this payment was allegedly given a share”, said the MP.

But Dr Simon Zwane, the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development promised to verify if indeed, the bank account where the money was deposited “belongs to one of the Directors”.

Zwane was not involved in all this corruption as he was the PS in the Ministry of Health when the alleged corruption manifested, but retired PS Clifford Mamba was the Controlling Officer in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

PS Clifford Mamba, as he then was,recommended the extension of Luke Chief Fire Officer Lushaba’s contract to the Civil Service Commission(CSC), a letter seen by this Swaziland News suggests.

Lushaba was due for retirement when the then PS recommended the two(2) years contract after the R15million truck alleged corruption deal.