MBABANE:Russell Mmiso Dlamini has labelled Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhonkhela who allegedly recommended him to be the Prime Minister, as one of the most corrupt Ministers in Cabinet.
The PM allegedly made these allegations during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy last month, Dr Noah Nhleko,the Secretary to the Mines and Minerals Board was present during the meeting that took place at the Cabinet Offices in Mbabane.
Information leaked to this Swaziland News suggests that,the Prime Minister summoned the officials and subsequently directed them to work towards ensuring that some Mines are owned by Government.
But the officials including Dr Nhleko allegedly told the PM that, it cannot be possible for Government to own Mines and that, Prince Lonkhokhela should be consulted regarding such proposal.
Insiders told this publication that after the meeting, they suspected that, the PM had his own investors he wanted to assist in penetrating the Mining Industry.
“Khohlwani ngalomuntfu loyo he is corrupt, naye ngulomunye nje lofuna kuba netakhe tiMayini”, the Prime Minister allegedly said.
One of the officials who were present during the meeting said, they were shocked to hear the PM making such allegations against their Minister.
“He told us that we must not consult with our Minister because he is corrupt, imagine a Prime Minister lehleba Minister when speaking to Government officials”, said the source.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhonkhela was recently exposed by this Swaziland News, together with his daughter Princess Simile and Zambian son-in-law Darlington Mwape(Simile’s husband) and this, was after they allegedly engaged in illegal Koalin mining at Mashobeni in the Shiselweni region.
It could not be ascertained if the PM was referring to this mineral scandal when allegedly labelling the Natural Resources and Energy Minister as corrupt.
Responding to this Swaziland News on Friday evening, Dr Noah Nhleko, the Secretary of the Mines and Minerals Board under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy confirmed that, a meeting was held with the Prime Minister but clarified that, to the best of his knowledge Prince Lonkhokhela “is not a corrupt” but a credible Minister.
“It’s true that we held a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issue you are asking me about but, nothing was formalized. On the issue of the Minister being labelled as corrupt, I can only say I don’t recall the PM saying such maybe he said it in passing while I was temporarily out of the meeting. But I can assure you that, our Minister is not corrupt we are working with him and he is a credible Minister of integrity”, said the Secretary of the Mines and Minerals Board.
Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhonkhela.