Public to be notified of Alpheous’ engagement

MBABANE – The Prime Minister’s Office says the public will be informed once there is a definite way forward regarding the engagement of Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo.

This follows a meeting held yesterday between Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and Nxumalo at the Private and Cabinet Office.

When asked if the meeting brought clarity on the long-standing question of Nxumalo’s re-engagement, the PM responded through Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli.

“We can only confirm that the Prime Minister’s Office held a meeting with Mr Nxumalo, which was one of several meetings held on the day. Pertaining to the matter of engagement of the government spokesperson, the public will know once there is a definite way forward,” said Mdluli.

Nxumalo, when reached for comment, described the engagement as a routine internal meeting aimed at aligning administrative matters within government.

“Well, other than the fact that this was just an internal routine administrative meeting wherein most housekeeping matters are discussed and aligned accordingly; I came to the Private and Cabinet Office in honour of an invitation extended to me by His Excellency the Right Honourable Prime Minister, not at my request,” he said.

He added that the prime minister reserved the right to disclose the details of their discussions.

“Therefore, he is the only one who reserves the exclusive right to share with whosoever he chooses the items of our discussions and their conclusions. However, I should be able to point out right away that the meeting was cordial and candid,” Nxumalo stated.

The latest development follows an earlier statement by the prime minister that his office had sought clarity from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regarding the renewal of Nxumalo’s contract as government spokesperson.

The PM had revealed that his office received conflicting statements on the endorsement of Nxumalo’s re-engagement, shortly after the CSC publicly announced that the spokesperson’s contract had been renewed.

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