DPM, Magwagwa, Sibahle mourn demise of intelligent man'

MBABANE- The news of the death of the country’s High Commissioner Muntu Mswane has been met with shock by some public figures and some of those he had worked with in the past.

He is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Swaziland Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO) and the Swaziland International Trade Fair. This was before he ascended the political ladder to become a Member of Parliament and later be appointed Minister of Commerce and Industry at the time, which was followed by a stint as the Minister of Health and later the Minister of the then Ministry of Public Service and Information.

It is at the ministry that Mswane is credited in pioneering the Media Council Bill. Later on in his political career Mswane became a senator and subsequently the President of the House of Senate between 1998 and 2003.
This was followed by an appointment as the High Commissioner to South Africa, a position he held until his death.
Mswane, who’s other names are Phillip Nhlanhla, passed away yesterday after a short illness in Pretoria, South Africa.

Some of the country’s public figures and people he worked with expressed their shock at the news of his passing.
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku said the country has lost a person of great experience who was reliable and trustworthy.

“I was shocked to hear that he has passed away, the last I heard was that he was sick. For him to have been appointed High Commissioner to South Africa which is an important trade partner to Swaziland shows that he was dependable and could be trusted,” he said.
The DPM said the country still needed people of his calibre to guide and share experiences with the young people of this nation.

He said together they played a role in the establishment of the Joint Ministerial Council between Swaziland and the Republic of China on Taiwan.
Former Minister of Justice Magwagwa Mdluli, who succeeded him at the then Ministry of Public Service and Information said in times of trouble he could always rely on him (Mswane) to give guidance as his predecessor.
“I succeeded him at the Ministry of Public Service and of all the three ministries I was appointed into, he is the only one who prepared me handover notes and went as far as taking me through the minutes explaining things to me,” he said.

Mdluli said even when faced with challenges in his work, the deceased would trouble himself and give advice where necessary.
 “He was passionate about his job and gave his all. The country has lost a generous and intelligent man,” he said pointing out that Mswane also had love for sports and helped to build the current MTN league champions Mbabane Swallows to what it is today.

Also mourning Mswane’s death, the Publicity Secretary of Sibahle Sinje cultural group Zibuse Simelane said he was shocked to hear the news of Mswane’s death.
“I am still shocked and as an organisation we sympathise with the whole nation because he is a man who served the nation well,” he said.

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