NDMA’S RUSSELL APPOINTED PM

LUDZIDZINI – Apparently unbeknown to some emaSwati, there was no rapturous applause when Ingwenyama announced Russell Mmemo Dlamini as the country’s new Prime Minister (PM).

Russell was not a popular figure despite the fact that he held a prominent public office, which was once occupied by the late Ben Mshamndane Nsibandze. The King referred to him as Mmemo, but Eswatini News can also reveal that his middle name is Mmiso. His Majesty the King, as reported by the Times SUNDAY a fortnight ago, has never summoned the nation to the cattle byre to announce the reappointment of a prime minister except Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini. He (Barnabas) served as the PM in the sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th parliaments. Since His Majesty King Mswati III ascended to the Throne 37 years ago, he has had nine prime ministers.

These are:

• Prince Bhekimphi Alpheous (chosen by Liqoqo during Queen Dzeliwe’s regency),
• Sotsha Earnest Dlamini,
• Obed Mfanyana Dlamini,
• Prince Jameson Mbilini;
• Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini
• Absalom Themba Dlamini,
• Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini;
• Cleopas Sipho Dlamini.
• Russell Dlamini

Russell worked as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
The King appointed him to lead government business in Parliament during the official closing of the People’s Parliament – Sibaya. This happened at Ludzidzini Royal Residence, the Queen Mother’s residence, which is considered as the country’s traditional headquarters. EmaSwati began to welcome him with ululation and whistles after they had seen police ushering him to the VIP area adjacent to the King.

Succeeded

He was dressed in a baby blue African print shirt. The towering premier succeeds Cleopas who held the office for two and half years. Cleopas had succeeded Ambrose who died in December 2020. Meanwhile, Russell hogged headlines in 2021 when the House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called for his suspension.
 The PAC recommended to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office to suspend Russell and Chief Financial Officer Nonkanyiso Ntshangase.

The PAC accused the NDMA of procuring sanitisers valued at E3 144 052 without following the right procurement procedure. Musa Kunene, the then PAC Chairperson, complained sometime ago that the NDMA did not respect the committee. Such committees are constitutional and possess powers equivalent to those of the High Court. Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula reported that the agency made an order for the purchase of 596 sanitisers from a certain company at the end of March 2020. The AG also reported that the NDMA did not account for E180 million. This was in relation to the COVID-19 fund. Reacting to this allegation, Russell disputed the auditor general’s report.

 Factual

He said the AG’s report was not factual as all monies were accounted for. Meanwhile, Russell has been the CEO of NDMA since November 2015. The CEO is the highest ranking officer in the agency. He was primarily responsible for making strategic decisions, managing the overall operations, managing and growing resources of the agency.
He also acted as the main point of communications between the Board of directors and corporate operations.

He also worked for Virtue Consulting, an entity that assists development agencies, government departments and businesses to realise their goals. He led a company that provided strategic consulting, including business plans and strategy development, development of innovative projects, resource acquisition and providing project management support.

He was responsible for mentorship and leadership support to individuals, developing businesses and organisations, and also ensuring sustainability of local economic development and agri-business. He also worked for World Vision International, where he was an interim national director from June 2010 to September 2010 and also served as an integrated programmes director from October 2009 to June 2010. The new PM directed all operations in the organisation for an integrated implementation of diverse programmes, doordinated programmes planning and implementation.

Implementation

He also provided organisational leadership and strategy implementation. The premier also supported programme design, monitoring and evaluation, resource acquisition, and donor liaison. Eswatini News has learnt that he also served as director – quality assurance at World Vision International, heading the technical department. When he was in charge of this department, he was responsible for leading development of organisational strategy, research and development, programme design, monitoring and evaluation of food and nutrition security, HIV/AIDS mitigation related programmes.

In terms of education, Russell is the holder of an Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Sustainable Development Planning and Management from University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. While doing this course, he studied complexity theory and systems thinking, applied economics, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. The prime minister is also armed with a BA Honours in Development Administration from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA).

Pertaining to his spiritual side as the people recommended to the King to appoint a prime minister, who fears God, the premier did some consultancy work at some point for the Eswatini Conference of Churches in March 2010. He developed a national strategy for this organisation and a project implementation plan so that the conference could be transformed into a relevant Christian body.

The Eswatini Conference of Churches is an umbrella body of local churches which seek to uphold the person and principle of Jesus Christ, as well as to demonstrate the love of Messiah through poverty alleviation and empowerment of local communities. In his CV, the now government leader stated that he has skills in the following:

• Sustainable development;
• Environmental management systems and public policy;
• Organisational leadership;
• Strategic planning;
• Programme design;
• Grants mobilisation
• Capacity building;
• Community development;
• Programme evaluation;
• Human rights;
• International Relations;
• Governance;
• Natural Resource management;
• Project management and     planning;
• Civil society (NGOs);
• Humanitarian assistance and report writing;

Reverend Zacharia Mthethwa, the Director of Voice of the Church wrote something about Russell, describing him as a strategic thinker, one who leads from a strategic perspective. The pastor mentioned that the new prime minister is a courageous man, fearless and focused. Efforts were made to talk to the new PM at Ludzidzini Royal Residence yesterday, but he did not respond to questions. In short, he kept quiet and walked under police guide to a State vehicle.

Constitutional questions

In another development, Russell Dlamini is not yet a Member of Parliament. Section 67 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini) provides that the King shall appoint the PM from among members of the House, acting on recommendation of the King’s Advisory Council. Efforts to comply with the Constitution shall be made, sources said.

Appointed

One of the 10 MPs appointed by the King will be transferred to Senate to create a seat for the PM in the House of Assembly. It effectively means the King will now appoint 19 senators, as one member of Senate is already in the House of Assembly. In 2008, the late Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini was appointed from outside Parliament. There was an outcry as political analysts and lawyers felt his appointment breached the Constitution.

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