Home | News | WHEN PM’S WIFE IS AWAY

WHEN PM’S WIFE IS AWAY

Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font

MBABANE - Hardly five months since her appointment as Director of the Swaziland National Library Services, Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini’s wife Joy has barely been available to perform her official duties.


She has had to accompany her husband in a handful of trips abroad.
Joy became the director of the library services on February 4, 2014, following the retirement of Nomsa Mkhwanazi.
She was the PM’s fiancée when she was appointed.


They were later to marry on Saturday, March 15, 2014 in a colourful ceremony at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in Manzini.
The Times SUNDAY has established that Jabu Tsabedze, the Deputy Director becomes the acting director whenever Joy is not available in her office. 


Sikelela Dlamini, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, is of the view that work at the national library is not affected by the official appointments that the prime minister’s wife had to take as they have strategies in place to ensure that the smooth running of the office was never affect. “Whenever an officer leaves the duty station, the duty post remains and another individual is given the task to ensure smooth running of the office,” he said. Dlamini revealed that such assignments required no form of leave application, as they were considered appointments on official capacity.


“It is very fortunate that the running of the office does not rely on an individual. We can confidently say the national library is working as well as expected,” said the PS. The Times SUNDAY recalls that Joy had to leave the office shortly after her wedding for her honeymoon in Dubai.
A few weeks later the prime minister had to represent the King in Taiwan and was again in the company of his wife.


Just yesterday, Joy was in the company of her husband when they returned from a trip to South Sudan.
They had been away for the better part of last week. According to Finance Circular No.2 of 2013, a minister (inclusive of the PM) is entitled to a single trip with a spouse each year.  


However, when the prime minister, deputy prime minister (DPM) or minister is representing His Majesty and has to travel with a spouse; such travel will not count against this entitlement.
Joy is, therefore, within her rights to accompany her husband on these trips.


However, this newspaper wanted to find out if her duties as director of the national library were not affected.
Tsabedze, the Deputy Director, declined to comment on how the library was operating in the absence of the director. She said she was not at liberty to speak to the media.


“I am still learning a lot of things in the office since I am new to it and therefore cannot be in a position to speak to the media. Any further interviews can be conducted with the director when she comes back,” she said on Thursday.


PS Dlamini said government regulations provided that an acting allowance should be paid to an individual who has been in an acting position for 15 conservative days. Tsabedze was appointed Deputy Director at the same time when Joy was appointed.

Comments (2 posted):

Phephile Mnicy on 13/07/2014 15:28:13
avatar
Wow kwaze kwakuhle
Amazed on 13/07/2014 16:48:36
avatar
All at the expense of the taxpayer.

Post your comment comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: