The Swaziland (eSwatini) House of Assembly will not investigate allegations that former Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini demanded sex for money from journalists when he was in office because he is now dead and cannot answer his accusers.
The decision was taken by a committee investigating corruption at the kingdom’s two state controlled radio and television stations.
The allegations that were widely reported in the media in the kingdom were that Dlamini demanded sex from female journalists during international trips. They would be paid between E100,000 and E200,000 (US$12,000) for spending nights with him.
Among allegations made to the committee was that a senior female manager would arrange women journalists to provide sexual favours for the prime minister.
Dlamini, a married man, was also accused of having a long-standing love affair with a staff member at the state radio.
The monies paid to the women were said to have come out of official funds, and ultimately paid for by the taxpayer.
Former Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini
The Swazi House of Assembly adopted a report of the select committee investigating serious allegations of corruption, nepotism and maladministration reported to be rampant at eSwatini Television and the eSwatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) directorate. It recommended senior executives be suspended while a major investigation took place.
The committee also decided not to investigate the allegations against the former Prime Minister.
Mduduzi Mabuza, the Hosea member of parliament, was one who opposed investigating Dlamini. He was reported saying, ‘I do not think it is right for us to openly talk about someone who is no longer among us, as this could happen to anyone of us once we are dead.’
Dlamini, who died in September 2018 aged 76, had been Prime Minister until the September 2018 national election. He was never elected by the people but appointed by King Mswati III, the kingdom’s absolute monarch. He held office for seven-and-a-half years until 2003. He was reappointed in 2008. He left behind a trail of misdeeds. In July 2017, Dlamini was made to return E200,000 in travel expenses he had claimed for a medical trip to Taiwan after it was revealed the Government of Taiwan had paid for it.
In 2010, Dlamini publicly threatened to use torture against dissidents and foreigners who campaigned for democracy in his kingdom. He said the use of ‘bastinado’, the flogging of the bare soles of the feet, was his preferred method.
See also
Former Swaziland PM Barnabas Dlamini demanded sex from journalists, official inquiry reports
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/10/former-swaziland-pm-barnabas-dlamini.htmlDeceased Swaziland Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini had life embroiled in allegations of corruption https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/10/deceased-swaziland-prime-minister.html
Swazi PM in another ‘nepotism’ row https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/04/swazi-pm-in-another-nepotism-row.html
Swaziland former Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini dies. Known as serial abuser of human rights https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/09/swaziland-former-prime-minister.html
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