VET BOSS DENIES DERAGATORY REMARKS IN BUFFS REPORT

MBABANE – Dr Xolani Dlamini has denied referring to the heads of State of Eswatini and Zambia in a derogatory manner in his report to the EU about the arrival of His Majesty King Mswati III’s three buffaloes.

Dlamini is the Director of Veterinary and Livestock Services under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Relations between Principal Secretary Bongani Masuku and Dlamini have soured following the arrival of His Majesty the King’s three buffaloes from Zambia.
The buffaloes were presented to the King as a gift by Zambian President Edgar Lungu, last year.

According to Masuku, Dlamini blew it when he allegedly implicated the two heads of state of Eswatini and Zambia in his report to the European Union (EU) following the importation of the three buffaloes.
Buffaloes are known carriers of the foot and mouth disease (FMD). Their importation resulted in the suspension of beef exports to EU countries. Eswatini enjoys a FMD free status.

The buffaloes tested negative to the disease and the import-ban was later lifted.
Masuku said things came to a head when Dlamini mentioned to the EU that the buffaloes had been imported from Zambia to Eswatini as a gift to the King from the Zambian president.

The PS said Dlamini’s alleged conduct was horrifying and of concern to the diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as their respective leaders.
In his replying affidavit, Dlamini said when he made the report to the EU, he had not been informed that the case of the buffaloes was to be treated differently.
Dlamini, who alleged that the PS suspended him from representing the country in the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE), said the minister of Agriculture and PS Masuku never told him to omit any facts from his report to the EU.

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