MBABANE – The Prime Minister (PM), Russell Mmiso Dlamini, has addressed circulating rumours that a reshuffle of Cabinet ministers is on the cards.
In recent days, talks have been doing the rounds that there could be a reshuffle of Cabinet ministers and probably principal secretaries. The claims have been to the effect that the PM was waiting for the Incwala Ceremony to be completed, after which he would approach His Majesty King Mswati III regarding proposed changes.
It was gathered that the claims were even discussed on the Cabinet corridors, which some ministers were already fearing that they could either be redeployed to other ministries or removed entirely from their Cabinet duties.
Sources within Cabinet relayed that this has allegedly caused a panic mode among some ministers. Following the reports, this publication engaged the Office of the PM and he provided responses to a questionnaire that was sent last week.
The PM said he had neither heard nor observed the panic.
However, he mentioned that Cabinet reshuffles happen anytime during the course of a term of office when it has pleased His Majesty. “There is no need for anyone to panic or talk about it,” the PM said.
The PM, Russell Mmiso Dlamini was appointed by His Majesty King Mswati III on November 3, 2023, after which he then announced his Cabinet on November 13, 2023. The administration has now been in office for two years and two months.
At Sibaya, the PM and his government were given a clear mandate to address pressing national challenges, including high unemployment, poor service delivery, a sluggish economy, a struggling health sector, entrenched corruption and an education system in need of comprehensive reform.
Notably, the previous Cabinet completed the better part of its term without having witnessed a reshuffle of ministers. The only shake-up that it experienced was when it lost four of its members who all passed away.
Even then, this resulted in the bringing in of three new Cabinet members who came directly into the portfolios that were left vacant by the deceased ministers.
These include: Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini who replaced the late Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini; Mabulala Maseko, who came in to replace the late Christian Ntshangase as Minister for Public Service; and Phila Buthelezi, who came in to replace the late Makhosi Vilakati as Minister for Labour and Social Security.
The fourth Cabinet member to pass away was Peter Bhembe, who was Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, but no one was appointed to replace him, such that the position had then Minister for Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza acting on it. As for the rest of the 16 Cabinet ministers, they remained in the portfolios they were appointed on November 2, 2018.
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