Politics

MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Dlamini wants clarity on the re-engagement of Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo.

The premier said he received conflicting statements on the endorsement of Nxumalo’s contract, after last week’s public statement by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) informing the nation that the government spokesperson’s contract had been renewed.

In a new twist in the matter, it has since been gathered that the endorsement of Nxumalo’s contract had not been officially done, pending clarity on the matter. The PM said his office had received conflicting statements regarding Nxumalo’s contract extension and is, therefore, awaiting the CSC to provide clarity on the matter.

“Unfortunately, the CSC Chairperson (Simanga Mamba) is currently out of the country and the commission cannot provide a formal response. Government, as a steward of public resources, would also prefer that any employee of government will be paid for work done and not merely for holding a contract. It is not considered prudent to hire and place someone on leave,” the premier said in an interview. The CSC Chairperson, Simanga Mamba, yesterday evening, said Nxumalo’s contract had been renewed and he was not aware of any conflicting developments.

“The CSC is not aware of any conflicting statements issued. The position is that the commission has renewed Nxumalo’s contract acting interms of Section 187 of the Constitution. The expectation is that the department concerned respects and implements the decision of the commission.

“If there are issues of clarity on how to implement same, they are at liberty to seek clarity from the commission and we will guide accordingly. As matters stand, and in principle, the commission has renewed the contract of Nxumalo as the government spokesperson,” Mamba said.

Meanwhile, Nxumalo said he was taken aback by the PM’s statement because his assumption was that the CSC’s decision is final on the matter.

“It is news to me that the PM raised such issues pertaining to my contract renewal. When I met the principal secretary and secretary to Cabinet, they informed me that the PM said my employment was a command. In fact, it was said that the PM would go to thank (kuyobonga) the command before the contract is endorsed,” Mamba said.

He said neither the principal secretary nor the secretary to Cabinet mentioned that there were clarities that still needed to be sought before the contract is signed.

Nxumalo said what further compounds his surprise at the development is that the CSC had openly said that the decision to renew the contract was taken in February this year.

“I believe it was the PM and the secretary to Cabinet who wrote to the CSC asking that my contract be renewed. It is not surprising that there is a process yekubonga that has to be done before the contract is endorsed,” he said. Last Thursday, the CSC announced it had renewed the contract of rape-accused Nxumalo as Government Spokesperson. This development comes four months after his contract lapsed in May this year. A statement by the CSC chairman stated that Nxumalo will, however, be placed on special leave pending the charges he faces.

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Prime Minister Russell Dlamini. (Pic: UNDP)