Times Of Swaziland: ACC BOSS: WE’RE LIKE DUMMIES

ACC BOSS: WE’RE LIKE DUMMIES
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BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 11/05/2021 08:48:00


LOBAMBA – “We are not happy.”
The above was expressed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Daniel
Dlamini, who revealed that staff morale was at an all-time low at the
institution because most of their operations were out of their control. Dlamini
revealed this yesterday when the ACC appeared before the Public Accounts
Committee (PAC) to respond to a few audit queries. The ACC boss made the
statements after PAC Chairperson Matsanjeni North PM Phila Buthelezi expressed
concern that although the ACC had functions to play, the results were just not
there. “You are not working, right now as the PAC we are here working on the
small fish yet the ACC, which is supposed to investigate the ‘big fish’ is
not delivering,” said MP Buthelezi. He said it was painful that although the
ACC carried out investigations, they could not effect any arrests or that none
of their cases were going to court to be heard.
“You should be bringing investor confidence, but there will be none if your
organisation is dormant,” said Buthelezi. In response, Dlamini admitted that
the working environment was not a nice one. He however, stated that he was not
the competent person to address these issues. He revealed that the Minister of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, had facilitated some
meetings to try and address the issues of constitutional alignment between the
ACC and the Human Rights Commission, which seemed to be playing similar roles.
He said the minister had also compiled a consultative report which he hoped
would set in motion the merger of the two institutions if that would be the
case. Dlamini said it was concerning that some of the matters that they had
investigated were still not being heard in court and said the director of public
prosecutions (DPP) had even written to the courts asking that the matters be
heard.
He said as an employee of the ACC, he would sometimes ask himself how he got
into that position and even get tempted to think that they (other officers as
well) wished they were working elsewhere. Dlamini said they had also launched an
appeal at the High Court following a judgment made by the chief justice, which
had ensured that some of the matters were not brought before the courts or
arrests effected. He said it was like they were ‘dummies’ (sitithipha) and
that was the reason why they were not happy.