PM CANCELS RAMODIBEDI, WIFE’S TRIP

MBABANE – Prime Minster Sibusiso Dlamini recently cancelled a previously approved external trip for Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi and his wife.

The trip was pulled by the PM at the eleventh hour in rather controversial circumstances when the CJ and his spouse had already been booked for a flight to Geneva, Switzerland.
It was supposed to be undertaken from October 13 to 19, 2014.

According to information availed to this newspaper, the couple had already secured a travel visa from the Swiss Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, when the trip was cancelled.
The CJ was going overseas to attend a conference for chief justices from Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth countries are former British colonies.
At least 53 countries are members of the Commonwealth. They span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and are diverse, comprising the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries.
At least 31 members are classified as small states – countries with a population size of 1.5 million people or less.
The reason advanced for the cancellation of Ramodibedi’s trip was that there were no funds to cater for it.

However, the Times SUNDAY understands that when it was approved in the absence of PM, who was out of the country, funds were said to be available.
Some commentators in the Swaziland political and governance landscape say the cancellation of the trip was a culmination of the many differences that have recently emerged to the public domain.
The trip had been initially approved by Paul Dlamini, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in his capacity then, as acting Prime Minister.

This was done when the premier was away in New York, United States of America, where he represented His Majesty the King at a United Nations meeting.
According to information availed to this newspaper, when he returned from the meeting, the PM recalled the minute that approved the trip and abruptly cancelled it.
In an interview with the Times SUNDAY, the DPM said he was comfortable with the move by the PM to cancel the trip.
He said before he issued the approval, he consulted the premier extensively on the trip.
“There were also ministers who were travelling abroad,” he said.

“I consulted with the PM on their trip as well, and their trip was sanctioned.”
The DPM said he respected the PM’s decision on the CJ’s trip particularly because when the minute that requested the approval was submitted to his office, he queried Ramodibedi’s wife’s attendance of the meeting.
“I asked why he would be travelling with his wife on an official assignment using government funds. The judiciary gave me an explanation and I eventually approved the trip,” he said.
The DPM said he respected the PM’s decision and stood by it.

Percy Simelane, Government Spokesperson, said there was nothing out of the ordinary with the cancellation of the trip.
He said the premier had a right to cancel the trip and that it was not the first and last time he would do so.
“This is not the last time he stops an officer from travelling externally. That I can promise,” he said.

“All external trips for government officers, including politicians, are approved by the prime minister. He exercises his discretion to sanction and reject trips,” he said.
Simelane further said the PM had explained, in a recent meeting with editors, that government officers were not to attend all the meetings to which they were invited.
He said the PM’s decision on trips was based on whether they were of interest to the officer who was being invited or the nation’s benefit.
Simelane said since he was recalled to became a government spin doctor in 2011, he had only travelled externally once.

“There is nothing sinister about this because as much as I love travelling and attending big conferences, I am happy to stay in my office and do government business from there.”
The government spokesperson said the PM was always happy with trips being taken by officers to government offices in the regions or constituencies.

Fikile Nhlabatsi, Registrar of the High Court and Spokesperson of the Judicial Services Commission, confirmed that Ramodibedi’s trip was aborted, primarily due to a shortage of funds.
These sentiments were echoed by Thembinkosi Mamba, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

“After we made all the bookings for the CJ, we realised that the class of travel was not suitable for his status. We then attempted to upgrade his tickets but we were unsuccessful due to a shortage of funds,” he said.
He said a decision was then taken to cancel the trip.

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