By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini allegedly went to National Disaster Management Agency(NDMA) stores in Matsapha on Thursday, to ‘steal’ food that was then distributed to his Parliament Portfolio Committee Members of Parliament(MPs) so they can eat at home with their families.

Worth-noting, the food was donated by international donors to benefit poor emaSwati who were affected by natural disasters like drought, storms and the recent floods.

But it has become a norm in eSwatini for powerful and politically connected individuals to steal donations meant to benefit the poor, this publication reported last week that, Eswatini Red Cross Director Danger Nhlabatsi and other officers stand accused of looting building material and donor funds meant to assist storm victims for their own personal benefit.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Thursday evening, Ngwempisi Member of Parliament(MP) Bhekibandla Vilakati confirmed receiving the food but said, he wasn’t aware that it came from the PM.

“Kona sikutfolile lokudla batsi sitawudla emakhaya ngu-Khisimusi wetfu,kitsi kuletfwe ngu-Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga.But now that you are saying it came from the Prime Minister,I wasn’t aware”, said the Ngwempisi MP.

It has been disclosed that,the Prime Minister distributed the donated food as gifts to the MPs shortly after attending the Senior Police Officers and Senior Civilian Support Staff Conference at the Police Academy, Mtfongwaneni MP and Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Office Portfolio Committee Nathie ‘Mdokies’ Hlophe was among the beneficiaries of the alleged stolen public food.

The public food allegedly stolen from the National Disaster Management Agency Stores include mealie-meal, beans and cooking and it came as one hundred(100) food parcels for each MP.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the matter.

But one of the MPs who spoke to this publication described the conduct of the PM as “divisive adding that, the NDMA is now under the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thulisile Dladla” as the Prime Minister long left the Disaster State entity.

“You ask yourself why he is interfering with the duties of the DPM, ufunani ka-NDMA ngoba the political head of the NDMA is Thuli Dladla”, said the MP.

Reached for comments by this publication, Wandile Dludlu, the Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) described the gifts from the Executive to the Legislature as corruption meant to compromise accountability.

“Obviously, being the novice that he is, he has to try and buy loyalty to strengthen his faction within the Legislature as well as the Executive. So we see this as corruption or trade-offs between MPs and the Executive.MPs are supposed to hold the Executive accountable but once the Executive is able to compromise the Legislature through gifts like these, you can then know that the Swazi is sold in exchange.The service delivery, efficiency and professionalism that you would expect from the State, is sold through these deals”, said the PUDEMO Deputy President.