BARNABAS’S ANTI-CORRUPTION TASK TEAM WAS A SHAM – EX-PS

MBABANE – “It was a sham.”

Former Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Sicelo Dlamini says the Anti-corruption Task Team established by the late Prime Minister (PM), Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, was allegedly a sham. Sicelo criticised the foundation of the task team, stating that when he analysed some of the things that were being done, it seemed the team members were being used to target the late PM’s enemies, rather than rooting out corruption. He said there were allegedly no tangible results produced by the team, which raises concerns about the newly launched tripartite committee, the Anti-corruption Task Team. The new task team was launched by PM Russell Dlamini, to enhance the fight against corruption. The team comprises the director of public prosecutions (DPP), the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of the police and the commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The DPP’s Office is currently held by the Acting DPP, Lomvula Hlophe, while the NATCOM’s Office is occupied by Lydia Dlamini. Maphevu Mkhatshwa is holding the fort at the ACC Commissioner’s Office.

The task team will report to the PM and will work with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane. During the launch, the Attorney General (AG), Sifiso Khumalo, revealed that the task team was not new, as a similar body was once established during the term of the late former PM (Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini). Khumalo said even at that time, the team directly reporting to the PM. The former PS, when sharing his knowledge about an Anti-corruption Task Team in the country, confirmed that a similar body was established around 2010.

According to Sicelo, he was the controlling officer in the ministry (Justice and Constitutional Affairs) from 2004 to 2011. He said between 2009 and 2010, he had a short span at the Ministry of  Economic Planning and Urban Development, but upon his return to the Justice Ministry, he found the team already set. He stated that the team took the same format as the existing one. Sicelo described the former team as being a sham as there was allegedly no real commitment to fight corruption. He explained that government spent a lot of money on the ‘supposed’ operations of the team, but there were allegedly no results or reports to show that there were indeed any attempts to clamp down on corruption. According to Sicelo during the team’s first term in office, they allegedly set aside E8 million, which was dedicated to the carrying out of its mandate.

Elapsed

“When the team was established, the budgeting period had elapsed. We had to set the money aside as there was no budget. I can’t remember how much was allocated the second time around as the team formed part of the budget. What I can share is that a lot of that money was spent on external travelling, going to countries like South Africa and Tanzania,” Sicelo said.
He said there was allegedly no clear explanation on why the team was taking external trips to these countries. He highlighted that as a controlling officer, he was allegedly made to sign documents without being given reasons. “I raised the matter with the then minister, asking why am I signing documents for the task team, yet there was no clear explanation about what they were really doing, for accountability. I was told to sign as it was decided. Watsi i-job yi job wena wekunene,” he said.

The former minister, when reached for comment, said he would revert, as he wanted to gather this thoughts about the whole issue, though he had a recollection of it. When explaining about what he uncovered as a controlling officer, Sicelo said there was allegedly no intention for the team to fight corruption, from those who put it in place, as a lot of time was spent on travelling, yet there were many issues relating to corruption that needed to be dealt with on the ground. The former PS went on to highlight that in his tenure, there was allegedly no corruption cases ever solved, nor any reports submitted to that effect, coming from the team.

Enemies

According to Sicelo, the team became a political tool to fight the then PM’s enemies. “Even though they reported directly to the PM, we handled the funds in the ministry, which were depleted yet there were no results to show. “The team was fighting the PM’s battles and I can cite people who were frustrated, just because they didn’t see eye-to-eye with the PM,” he alleged. He went on to mention that the establishment of the team was allegedly a facade, giving people hope that something was being done to address corruption in the country.
Meanwhile, the establishment of the current team follows His Majesty King Mswati III’s directive on tackling corruption in the country, saying those found responsible for any corrupt practices should be held accountable. His Majesty said corruption stood in the way of progress in the nation’s plans, programmes and projects for development. He was speaking during the official opening of the 12th Parliament last Friday.

The King said emaSwati made their voices heard during Sibaya, People’s  Parliament expressing frustration with the lack of tangible progress in addressing this issue. He went on to encourage government to prioritise taking action on this matter, saying it was high time, they witnessed judgments passed on individuals involved in corruption, holding them accountable for their actions.

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