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SENIOR OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF NEPOTISM AT WORKS

15/10/2017 06:11:00 BY NOSIPHO SHONGWE

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MBABANE – One of the senior officials in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport stands accused of allegedly elevating some undeserving employees to senior positions.

Among other allegations, it is said the officer is accused of not only promoting those who have performed personal favours to the officer but the officer has recently been blamed for awarding a tender to a former retired senior government officer who happens to be a family friend.

According to information received by the Times SUNDAY, the tender was never advertised and the man behind the company is alleged to have been awarded the contract to draft regulations for one of the departments under the ministry.
It is alleged the contract was awarded without being put up for tender as per the normal procedure. Our sources allege that the accused official family friend set up the company hastily just for the said tender.

Another issue that seems to have upset other employees within the ministry was the promotions within Anti-Abuse Unit. It is said previously, the assumption was that the officers working in this department need to have some form of training on enforcement.

The sources also revealed to the Times SUNDAY that another matter pertains to a certain driver who knocked down and killed a pedestrian but the incident was swept under the carpet by the said officer .
It is alleged that the officer issued instructions that the vehicle be fixed and repaired of all defects without the compilation of a report which is expected to accompany a government vehicle before it could be repaired.
“However, the fingered driver was later promoted from being a labourer to the position of roads overseer under unclear circumstances,” the aggrieved source said.

The source said that left the other employees aggrieved because of the fact that the ‘labourer’ rose within the ranks above other deserving and seasoned operators within the department. Responding to the allegations, the officer in question expressed shock at the fact that officers within the department harboured such ill will towards him.

The officer mentioned that he had an idea who the people who had leaked the information to the Times SUNDAY were. The fingered officer did not reveal their names, however.
in response, the said officer said it must be noted that all promotions in the ministry are a preserve of the Civil Service Commission according to the (Constitution of Swaziland, section 187). “My office does not promote employees but CSC and committees who have been delegated by CSC do so.”

The officer explained that heads of department present their officials to the principal secretary for his consideration with his team for action and or endorsement.