2 CHAIRPERSONS APPOINTED FOR SCCOM

MBABANE – It appears that SCCOM has two bulls in one kraal.  This is based on the fact that the Swaziland Communications Commission (SCCOM) has two legally appointed board chairpersons.
Who is going to chair the Board meeting between Polycarp Dlamini and Sipho J. Shongwe?

According to the law, they are both chairpersons.
Dumisani Ndlangamandla, the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, first appointed Shongwe to the position of chairman about three years ago.
However, a gazette published last month indicates that Dlamini, whose major claim to fame is being a football administrator as manager for national team Sihlangu and premier league side Mbabane City, is also the leader of the Board.
He is also director of a construction company, Homeboyz Construction.

His appointment is with effect from May 29, 2018. His appointment is for a three-year period.
Dlamini joined the board to replace the late former Swaziland Railways Chief Executive Officer Gideon Mahlalela, who was the commission’s deputy chairperson. 

Polycarp shocked
by ‘promotion’

In an interview yesterday, Dlamini was shocked that he had been elevated to the most senior position at SCCOM.
In his knowledge, he said he was appointed deputy chairperson – not chairperson. He was told that a new gazette, whose publication was authorised by the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), recognised him as the chairperson.

Responding to the gazetted appointment, Dlamini said the appointment was incorrect, adding that it was an error. “I’m not the chairman. In fact, I am the deputy chairman,” he said.
Asked if he would have had the capacity to chair and manage the Board, Dlamini, the holder of a Diploma in Project Management, said a Board needed to have a diversity of mindsets – not just a group of intellectuals put together or people of the same mind working independently.

Basically, he said the SCCOM Board did not discuss technical and highly confusing issues such as how a mobile phone was manufactured. He made an example of Victor Gamedze (late) who did not have an experience or qualification in telecommunication but co-founded Swazi Mobile.
He said there was nothing that could make him fail in his duties as a deputy chairman – not chairman. “The economy of the country needs all of us to work together. But, it’s like emaSwati want foreigners to do things for them,” he said. 
Ndlangamandla, the minister, sounded shocked that the gazette recognised Dlamini as the chairperson.

He made it clear that this particular gazette should be corrected because Shongwe was still at the helm.
He said he appointed Dlamini as the deputy chairperson – not chairperson.

“I appointed him to serve as deputy chairperson. I don’t understand why the gazette recognises him as the chairman. We actually need to sit down and correct the gazette,” he said.
He added: “If there’s a gazette, which suggests Polycarp Dlamini is the chairman; it is a wrong gazette, we are sorry for that.”

gazette published with glaring mistake?

Sipho Shongwe, the current Chairman, did not understand why a gazette was published with such a glaring mistake.
“I think the AG’s chambers should give us an explanation. These recurring mistakes are not good for the country.  I am not blaming the AG’s chambers per se but just raising a concern,” said Shongwe.
He shared similar sentiments that Dlamini was appointed as deputy chairperson. “I think what the minister says is a story,” he said.

Sipho Gumedze, a respected attorney, said the legal implications of the two gazettes depended on how Dlamini (Polycarp) felt about it. He said he could sue if he felt offended.
“If Polycarp perceives the gazette to have been published to embarrass him; he can then sue,” said Gumedze.

He said he could argue that government should have crosschecked the facts before publishing the gazette.
Asked about institutional implications, he said the second legal notice was void on the basis of error.
“It doesn’t revoke the previous one, hence it’s void,” he said.

Another legal expert said the issuance of a legal notice with such an error raised questions about the integrity of the officials of the Ministry of ICT.
He said the ministry should publish a new one. “It’s a serious cause for concern if people commit such serious mistakes,” said the attorney, preferring to remain anonymous.  
Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo could not be reached for comment yesterday as his mobile phone rang unanswered for more than five times.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: