SHOWDOWN AS PS DETESTS MP’S QUESTIONS

LOBAMBA – There was a showdown in parliament when Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Joel Nhleko challenged an MP’s line of questioning during a probe on government spending.

The PS took exception to assertions made by Lobamba MP Allan Stewart, who registered discontent with public servants who do not have the best interest of the country at heart.

This was after some members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) felt that the ministry officials were dragging feet in reclaiming money from the sale of two government houses in Kenya.

The houses were sold when the country decided to move the Embassy to Ethiopia.
Chairperson of the PAC Phila Buthelezi read a letter from the lawyers who were charged with selling the houses on behalf of the government, where they questioned reasons for delays by the Eswatini Government in giving them bank account details to deposit the money.

The letter dated February 2019 was a reminder, which means the ministry had been delaying for some time. On a few occasions, the PS told the PAC that the bank details were still to be forwarded to the lawyers but there were unforeseen delays. The amount in question is E12 million.

MP Stewart then said there were public servants ‘who do not have the best interest of the government at heart’ yet they were holding public office.

sensitive

The PS asked to respond outside the hansard (a parliamentary recording device) but the PAC chairperson said he could only do that if he wanted to share sensitive information not just a sentiment.

He then said the account would definitely be conveyed to the lawyers. “Sometimes when we sell these buildings we then run short of money to build new houses for officials in foreign missions. He said this eventually meant government had to rent out premises to house officials. It is wrong to say we do not have the best interest of the country. It is wrong for Honourable Stewart to say so.”

The Chairperson, Buthelezi, then said MP Stewart merely said Nhleko should withdraw a statement he had made to the effect that all civil servants had the best interest of the country at heart.

MP Stewart then said: “It is disappointing that you feel offended by the statement I made.”
The Chairperson then asked that the session takes a short break saying ‘this will also help to calm the tempters’.

However, during the break, the PS went straight to MP Stewart and sought clarity on his statement. Stewart went outside the House of assembly, but Nhleko grabbed his hand and went out with him.
A few minutes later MP Mduduzi Magagula came back with the PS and asked him to calm down.

When the session returned, after 15 minutes, the Chairperson warned that the spat between the two should be put aside.

“I have been informed that the Controlling Officer (PS) was shouting along the hallway of the parliament and this does not augur well for the work we are here to do. Eventually, the MP came to me saying he was now scared to return to the house and was thinking of going home. Let us put the matter to rest please,” he said.
PS Nhleko then apologised and asked that the house continues with business.

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