I’M NOT RESPONSIBLE, LUTFO TELLS PARLY TEAM

LOBAMBA – “I am not responsible for the influx of Asians in the country.”

These were the words of former minister Lutfo Dlamini when he appeared before the House of Assembly Select Committee investigating the influx of illegal immigrants in the country, particularly of Asian origin.
According to Dlamini, there was a tendency of being petty in the country, which made people to accuse him of something that they could not prove.
He mentioned that during his tenure as the minister of the then Enterprise and Employment for a period of 10 years, there was never a time where he used his influence to allow foreign investors of Asian origin to open businesses illegally.

He invited anyone who had information to sustain such allegations to come forward.
Dlamini was responding to a question by the chairperson of the committee, MP Titus Thwala, to explain the well-known notion that he was responsible for bringing the many Asians who were now operating businesses in the country.
He mentioned that he was one person who operated in a transparent manner and that there were no Asians ‘lekawamemile’.

He mentioned that during his tenure, foreign investors came to operate in the country through the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA), following the decision to build factory shells countrywide to attract investors.
He said at that time, those investors were coming with big money and followed the right procedures by submitting proper business plans and technical expertise to open their businesses.
According to Dlamini, his office’s duty was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was then sent to the ministries of Economic Planning or Public Works.

“That was the only time where we got to know which investor came in. We did not issue work permits. All that we did was motivation through SIPA. We would then take the person to Home Affairs,” he said.
He mentioned that regarding opening businesses on Swaziland Nation Land (SNL), investors did so after having received the King’s consent following consultation with the chiefs and the Swaziland Commercial Amadoda.
“The licences to operate esicintsini are not advertised because they have the signature of the King, after the investor is recommended by the chief. So it is the chief and the Swaziland Commercial Amadoda who should explain,” he said.
After making his submissions, the committee sought his advice on what could be done to solve the issue of the influx or if foreign investors who were in the country illegally should be sent packing.
He responded by suggesting that the best way would be to force them to partner with locals.

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