“It is important that we have to begin to look at whether the reports of the Auditor General can now be relied upon. Yes I’m saying that, just hold on, just listen you need to listen to that. We now have to work on whether the reports of the Auditor General can be relied upon. Let me give you an example; the country now understands that there’s R180million missing from NDMA, there was never R180million that is missing. Now he has actually said, there’s another R30million, so people have began to write about R210million, all that is false I can surely tell you, it is false and in fact it points to the incompetence in that office” – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini at the Breakfast Meeting at the Mountain View (06.06.2025)
“Following Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s statements about the Office of the Auditor General, Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Madala Mhlanga has announced the suspension of PAC sittings until further notice. He made this announcement during a press conference” (Times of Eswatini, 07.06.2024).
The Auditor General Timothy Matsebula is now in trouble. The Prime Minister and the Chairperson of the PAC is now acting in hostility towards Matsebula. It isn’t like the AG haven’t been in trouble before.
Just like last year in August 2023 that the AG was getting death treats and that’s why there was calls for securing his safety. The latest news of people calling incompetent and such is the least of things that his been through before.
Surely King Mswati III haven’t stopped trusting him, as his one of his appointees since August 2018. It isn’t like the AG is new to the office or work. No, the PM is a fresher in consideration to the AG. It seems to be an act of showing ability to govern and undermining others within the hierarchy.
They are all there to serve the King and being his servants. There is no elections and everyone who has a high ranking office is there on the mercy of the King. The King who has no trouble using violence, lethal force or end anyone who oppose him. Therefore, the King is needed to be blessed and shown loyalty.
That’s where the PM is now challenging the man that appointed him just as recent as November 2023. He haven’t had a long time in office. While the AG has had years and 7 Prime Ministers who he has served in cabinet with. Therefore, the PM is more easily to change them. Some has died in office, but the AG is a trusted one for the King.
That’s why the King has decide to either listen to his PM or dismiss it. He does this as the King is enjoying the perks of being the head of state abroad. The man is at a Conference in Asia and enjoying life. Surely these headlines and presser should have been avoided. His now have to do something and has to decide what is best.
Either believe the words of his newly appointed PM or the man he has trusted for years in the AG. That’s what the King has to decide about. He can either let the authorities and the state actually look into the works of the AG or let it go. Maybe that would undermine his own actions and how he governs himself. Nevertheless, the King has choices to make.
The King has to make a decision and the PM has forced his hand. The cards have been played. The game is on and we have to see who wins in the end. Peace.
MinBane 