REVEALED: WHAT SPARKED RIFT BETWEEN PM, ZISHWILI

MBABANE – After months of speculation and rumour mongering, the silence regarding the Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini’s longest serving bodyguard, Paul Zishwili, has been broken.

The record has been set straight that the former PM’s ‘right-hand man’ was removed from his position due to an alleged unforeseen scenario where his conduct compromised security arrangements for the head of government.

Breaking the silence was Zishwili’s employers, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), which issued a press statement detailing why he was recalled from the PM’s security detail.

Zishwili has over the years become the PM’s ‘right-hand man’ as he has been literally behind the premiers’ back at every function, be it personal or work-related assignments.

Leave

However, things changed in March this year when he was put on an alleged ‘vacational’ leave for a period of two months.
His leave came at a time when there were already many unfounded allegations and rumours after reports emerged that he had been removed from the premier’s security detail, something which the police strongly disputed and stated that he was actually not feeling well.
The rumours were spread mostly on social media, Facebook, where users posted different versions summarising that the relationship between the two had gone sour.

Despite the media seeking clarity on whether there had been a misunderstanding between Zishwili and the PM, the police stuck to their version by emphasising that he had even sought medical help from a South African hospital sometime back. However, the tune has changed in the press statement as the police have made it clear that he has, in fact, been transferred to other duties.

The reason, according to the statement, is that the professional relationship between him and the PM extended for many years but allegedly proved to be unsatisfactory in the most recent weeks.
“Zishwili’s assignment to that post, and this development compromised security arrangements for his principal (PM),” reads part of the statement.

It was mentioned in the statement that Zishwili’s transfer, to the best knowledge of the police, was a result of his alleged prolonged absence from duty for a period spanning six weeks, allegedly due to ill-health, information which they claimed was not properly communicated nor supported by any documentary proof on his part.

“This shortfall in procedure was identified during an enquiry that was internally instituted which revealed that his conduct fell short of the necessary level of security and protocol to be accorded the PM and the REPS. This unforeseen scenario which had emerged could not be allowed to prevail unabated as it posed a risk to the PM’s security architecture,” alleged the police.

It was further mentioned that an operational decision was then taken to recall Zishwili from his position and that he had been strongly warned for his alleged lack of observance of administrative procedures and professional etiquette.

The PM was called by this reporter to ascertain if he was aware of the statement that had been issued and he responded to the affirmative.
In jest, he asked this reporter if she knew the whereabouts of Zishwili as he had not seen him for weeks.

“If you disappear at your workplace what do you expect them to do to you? I have been informed by the police about the issue and everything that they told you is the same information they gave me,” the PM said after this reporter had shared the contents of the press statement.

Attempts to get a comment from Zishwili were unsuccessful as his phone rang unanswered for the better part of yesterday. This newspaper wanted him to verify the allegations that he had absented himself from duty without properly communicating or providing proof that it was due to ill-health.

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