MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has taken over the duties of Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula amid tension and serious division in Cabinet.
It has been disclosed that, the PM appointed his Policy Advisor Muzi Dube to represent him in meetings with the Consultant working on the transformation of the Central Medical Stores(CMS) and in the process, he allegedly sidelined the Minister.
The PM is also alleged to have grabbed a press statement that was to be delivered by Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula this week and communicated it himself, the press statement was about the introduction of radiotherapy services in eSwatini amid rise in Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs).
The transformation of the CMS “that is responsible for the procurement of drugs in public hospitals has commenced and, the Prime Minister allegedly “wants it to be under his Office”.
Outgoing Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment and clarify the matter.
On another note, a Cabinet Minister close to the matter alleged that, the Prime Minister threatened not to approve the recommendations of the Consultant working on the Central Medical Stores transformation if “his directive is not adhered to”.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Wednesday, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said the Prime Minister must reshuffle Cabinet “if he feels some Ministers are sabotaging his Development Policies” but clarified that, it might not be possible without the approval of King Mswati.
“The Prime Minister is the leader of Government but in the context of Swaziland, it is difficult because the Government belongs to His Majesty. You may not be working well but as long as the King does not see any problem, you will continue working as the Prime Minister and Ministers because both the PM and Ministers are appointed by the King. So as the situation stands, the PM needs to be creative and see how he can work under the current situation until such time that, the King realizes the need for a Cabinet reshuffle”, said the lawyer.
But the lawyer warned that, despite the challenges in Cabinet, it’s wrong to isolate other Cabinet Ministers.
“I think he should have drawn lessons from the late Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini who was not interfering with the work of other Ministers but was respected as the Prime Minister”, he said.
Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula(pic: Gov).