Home | News | TOP ARMY POST FOR HLANGUSEMPI, HLOBI IN PSB

TOP ARMY POST FOR HLANGUSEMPI, HLOBI IN PSB

03/05/2019 04:17:00 BY SIBONGILE SUKATI

Font size:

MBABANE - There is a new sheriff in town. Former Minister of Economic Planning and Development Prince Hlangusempi has been appointed the National Chief Defence Officer.

The appointment was made by His Majesty King Mswati III through Legal Notice No.57 of 2019.
The appointment is with effect from April 1, 2019 until the same date in 2023, which is essentially a period of five years.

According to Attorney General Sifiso Mafelenkhosini Khumalo, the princes’s position was similar to that of a chief officer in the King’s Office.
He clarified that Prince Hlangusempi was in no way the army commander, but held a rather administrative position within the army.

“The position is similar to that of chief officer and he will run the administrative part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force,” said Khumalo.
The AG said this was a new position in the army.
Two weeks ago, the King appointed former army commander Sobantu Dlamini into the Ludzidzini Council, which is an advisory body to mostly the Queen Mother.

Vacant

The position of army commander remains vacant. The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and National Security is Andreas Mathabela, who is in his 70s and was given a six-month extension in office by the King.

According to the Legal Notice; “ The appointment of National Chief Defence Officer was done in exercise of powers conferred by Section 191 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini Act 2005, where King Mswati III, King and Ingwenyama of Eswatini appointed Prince Hlangusempi.”

On another note, former Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Hlobisile Ndlovu has been appointed as a member of the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB).
Ndlovu, who was two weeks ago appointed as a member of the Ludzidzini Council, beat former Senator Meninjeni Mahlalela to the post.
This happened during a sitting of the Parliament Joint House Committee yesterday where reliable sources revealed that Ndlovu won the race by eight votes while Mahlalela managed to get six.
Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini confirmed Ndlovu’s victory, but did not add more details as he said the legislators had to be informed first. Other members of the PSB include Senator Chief Mphatfwa Dlamini, Mhlume MP Victor Malambe, presiding officers and the clerk to Parliament.