By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Danger Nhlabatsi,the Director of Red Cross Eswatini has been implicated in a R12million scandal in that, he allegedly colluded with junior officers in the Procurement Department to facilitate payments to suppliers with an alleged intention to defraud a donor being the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies(IFRC).

It has been disclosed that on or around January 2024, Eswatini Red Cross received a R12million drought relief funding from the said donor, the money was meant to benefit residents of Sigwe,Somntongo, Matsanjeni, Lubulini and Nkilongo among other areas in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions.

The project according to information obtained by this publication’s Investigation Unit, was supposed to be implemented from January 2024 until the 30th September 2024.

But according to the funding agreement between Red Cross Eswatini and IFRC, the project was supposed to be completed on or before the 30th September 2024 failing which, Eswatini Red Cross was obligated in terms of the agreement, to return all remaining and/or unutilized funds to the said donor.

An independent investigation conducted by this publication further uncovered that, towards the end of September 2024, the Director who holds the position of Secretary General within the organization, allegedly signed a full payment to Living Waters Borehole Drilling amounting to seven hundred and forty-five thousand Rands(R745,000.00) for services that were not rendered at the time of the said payment.

It is alleged that,the money that was budgeted for the maintainance of boreholes within the said Constituencies in the Shiselweni and Lubombo region, was allegedly transferred on the night of 30th September 2024 and, that was before 12midnight being the project deadline.

But insiders told this publication that, before transferring the money, Nhlabatsi allegedly held a meeting with the Red Cross Management and advised that, the supplier must be paid before the deadline, he was vigorously opposed to suggestions that, the money be returned back to the donor saying, the maintenance of the boreholes will be done later.

The Director is alleged to have approved the payment amounting to R745,000.00 knowing very well that, the services were not rendered by Living Waters Borehole Drilling and Exploration.

“Nhlabatsi signed and approved the payment knowing very well that, Living Waters had not maintained the boreholes but, the donor was told that the boreholes were maintained. What you need to understand here is that, when the representative from the donor-IFRC arrived, Nhlabatsi arranged that, the donor be transported to tour existing boreholes as if, those boreholes were maintained under this project.There was no time for the donor to inspect each and every borehole and, if that borehole needed maintenance in the first place”, said an insider.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Saturday evening, Danger Nhlabatsi confirmed that, a payment was made to Living Waters but, he denied that, the company was paid for services that were never rendered.

“It's not true.Living Waters carried out all the work and it was even verified by IFRC who came to check the work on the ground”, said the Red Cross Eswatini Director.

But an independent investigation conducted by this publication further uncovered that, on the first week of October 2024 and subsequent to the R745,000.00 payment made to Living Waters, Wakhile Dlamini, the Disaster Management Coordinator and Procurement Officer Sizwe Sibeko who had colluded with the Director to facilitate the alleged corrupt payment to Living Waters, received sixty-three thousand Rands(R63,000.00) as a bribe from Living Waters and/or the company’s alleged agent.

The R63,000.00 alleged bribe was paid to Dlamini and Sibeko through Colani Shongwe’s company,Shongwe works as Eswatini Red Cross Paramedic.

Responding to this publication when questioned and asked to clarify the R63,000.00 that was paid to his company’s bank account, the Red Cross Paramedic confirmed receiving the payment. 

Shongwes said, he was approached by Wakhile Dlamini, the Red Cross Disaster Coordinator who asked to receive a payment through his bank account.

“I wasn’t aware what was happening, I was just approached by Wakhile who asked to receive his money via my account saying his bank accounts were frozen. If you investigated the transaction, then you could see that, kimi kwafika lo-R63,000.00 ngamendlulisela ku-Wakhile unjengoba unjalo, kute lengakutfola ngoba vele bengingati kutsi yani lemali, abecele nje to receive his money via my bank account”, he said.

Both Wakhile Dlamini, the Red Cross Disaster Coordinator and Procurement Officer Sizwe Sibeko avoided questions from this publication.

When this publication tried to seek a comment from Living Waters Borehole Drilling and Exploration, the Manager who answered the call said, he was aware of the project but, will verify with the Directors regarding the bribery allegations.

“I will have to verify with the Directors regarding the allegations, otherwise I’m aware of the project not the bribes”, said the Manager.

On another note, Eswatini Red Cross has been marred by allegations of fraud and corruption, donor funds meant to benefit emaSwati are disappearing. 

Eswatini is currently facing natural disasters, hundreds of citizens were affected by the recent floods while others never received assistance after the recent storms.

It has been disclosed that, part of the donor funds were to be distributed as cash to the victims of natural disasters so that, “they can buy basic necessities including fertilizers for subsistence farming”.