By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson says, he doubts that, the King will approve the reduction of Ministries and dismiss other Cabinet Ministers.

This comes after Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini proposed the reduction of the Ministries when presenting his Grand Plan for National Transformation in Pigg’s Peak last week, he wants to close the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and introduce a new Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Sunday afternoon when asked to clarify if the Monarch will approve this proposal that will result to other Ministers losing their Cabinet positions, the Spokesperson said, the King might not approve such changes in the middle of the Prime Minister and/or the current Cabinet political term.

The Spokesperson said such changes are normally done in the beginning of the term so that, there could be no Cabinet Minister who will be affected by the changes.

“I am not sure how the Prime Minister wants this done in terms of timing.Those who came before him were looking at the beginning of the five-year term after elections as the most opportune time to reduce the Ministries.This means no Minister would have to be disengaged,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli declined to comment about the matter.

It is alleged that, the Prime Minister compiled the Grand Plan for National Transformation without consulting Cabinet thus making it difficult for other Ministers to implement it.

The Prime Minister according to Cabinet sources, “wants to move one of his favorite Ministers Dr. Thambo Gina to head the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, announce a Cabinet reshuffle, recommend the appointment of some Members of Parliament(MPs) and Senators as Cabinet Ministers and then, dismiss those who disagree with him.

But royal insiders alleged that, the King has been rejecting the PM’s proposal to announce a Cabinet re-shuffle amid division in Cabinet.

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has been clashing with other Ministers during Cabinet meetings for some time now.