MBABANE – The Prime Minister (PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini has clarified the widespread reports to the effect that a Cabinet minister was fired.
The clarification is contained in the report of the PM’s Office Portfolio Committee on the debate of the ministry’s annual performance report for the financial year 2025/2026 and budget estimates for the financial year 2026/2027.
During the debate last week, a submission was raised to the effect that there were disturbing news circulating on social media platforms to the effect that the minister for Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) had been fired.
In the responses tabled at the House of Assembly yesterday, the PM said: “We have no record or instrument where the minister was fired, hence she has been part of Cabinet and Parliament and has continued to draw a salary.”
In the same report, the PM has rejected allegations that he takes key government decisions without consultation, insisting that his office remains committed to advancing initiatives that improve the lives of emaSwati.
During the debate, MPs had accused him of acting independently and allegedly opposing digital initiatives such as the Government In Your Hand (GIYH) application.
In a firm rebuttal, Dlamini described the claims as ‘not true’, stating that it would be contrary to his mandate to obstruct programmes designed to enhance service delivery.
“The prime minister would never stand in the way of projects aimed at improving the lives of emaSwati,” he said, emphasising that his responsibilities are guided by the country’s development agenda, including the Nkwe Programme of Action and the Grand Plan for National Transformation.
Regarding the GIYH application—an initiative intended to enable citizens to access government services digitally and reduce long queues in public offices, the PM clarified that his office fully supports the project.
However, he stressed that safeguarding citizens’ data remains a critical priority.
“The Prime Minister’s Office is concerned about the protection of people’s data, particularly if systems are not sufficiently secure,” he explained, adding that the insistence on making the platform ‘water-tight’ should not be misconstrued as opposition.
The PM further revealed that his office does not support the outsourcing of sensitive national data to international IT companies, warning that agreements lacking robust data protection provisions are ultimately ‘meaningless’.
He noted that similar arrangements in other countries have proven costly and unsustainable.
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