‘S’GCOKO PAID FOR 3 MONTHS OUT OF OFFICE’

LOBAMBA – Motshane MP Robert Magongo has alleged that Eswatini Television Authority (ETVA) CEO had his salary backdated for three months yet he was not even in office at that time.

The CEO of Eswatini Television Authority is Bongani Sigcokosiyancinca Dlamini. MP Magongo said as a result, he would move a motion in the House of Assembly calling for a commission of inquiry into the ETVA operations. “Again minister, ETVA emsakatweni yetitfombe kuyagangwa,”.  MP Magongo made these allegations yesterday in the House where he informed the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Princess Sikhanyiso that the CEO had further fired some of the station’s employees for not covering his traditional wedding (umtsimba), which was held in April last year. He said there was evidence in place.  This was during the budget debate of the ministry’s first quarter performance report by the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee, which is chaired by Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze.

MP Magongo said the money which was paid to Dlamini ran into many thousands yet he was not entitled to it because he was not in office. “The CEO further fired some of the officers for going to pay a courtesy call to you honourable minister and this is a matter which needs to be investigated,” Magongo alleged. He wondered who wanted to be fired in this day and age and said people should not do something which they would not like to be done to them. He further alleged that the Board Chairman at ETVA also ran a recruitment agency company and it was understood that some of the new staff members were recruited under the Board chairpersons company which was a direct conflict of interest. He said he had the information as people trusted him with it, adding that he was very lucky. MP Magongo claimed that the national broadcaster was now actually referred to as Enkhaba ETVA.

Motion

“This is just for your information minister that I will be moving a motion in the House because why would you fire anyone for coming to pay a courtesy visit,” said MP Magongo. He wondered if the minister would fire him if he went to pay her a visit, particularly because he was keen on paying the princess a visit, yet he had just gotten around to doing it. Meanwhile, the MP further told the minister that there were employees who had been suspended at the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) about five years ago, but their matter had still not been heard. He said they were employed under a crucial department which pumped money into the station and wondered why the matter was not being heard. He said they were under the advertising department and wondered why the director did not raise these issues.

“This news was brought to me and I am now speaking on his behalf,” said MP Magongo. He said the former prime minister in 2013 had presented a law which was passed in Parliament that if a person faced any corruption charges, the matter had to be heard within five years. He added that if government had caused the delay, the suspect had to be released because there was clearly no evidence. On another note, Magongo said he would soon be inviting the ICT minister to appear before the Government Assurances Committee as he was the chairperson.
“I want the minister to assist me on why parliamentarians are not allowed to speak on national radio as there was a report on the media ban,” he said. Magongo said he wanted the minister to inform the House why they were banned adding that bucopho had access to the radio station. “We are not wanted there yet there was a report which was passed here stating that MPs  should have access to the radio,” said Magongo.

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