By Zweli Martin Dlamini

While conducting an investigation into the R12million corruption scandal at the Eswatini Red Cross,it came to my attention that, building material purchased with donor funds for the recent storm victims was secretly kept at the Matsapha Warehouse while emaSwati who were supposed to benefit are without shelter amid the ongoing floods.

It’s almost two(2) years now and residents of Ngculwini and other areas had their names registered for assistance but subsequently, the Red Cross Management disappeared without providing the assistance.

As you read this article, part of the building material is at the Matsapha Warehouse and the Eswatini Red Cross Management has been taking turns, stealing it for their own personal benefit.

Danger Nhlabatsi, the Director and/or Secretary General of the organization is owning beautiful houses and some of these houses were allegedly built with building material stolen from his employer, the poor emaSwati who were supposed to benefit from this international generosity are struggling in the rural areas. 

It is very disturbing to note that, as a country or as emaSwati, some of us who are working and can afford to take care of ourselves and build our own houses, we have developed greediness such that we have no shame in stealing international donations meant to benefit the poor and vulnerable.

Instead of asking ourselves; what are we doing for fellow emaSwati whose lives were pushed deeper into poverty by natural disasters?; we are stealing even international donations, what a shame!!!.

The storm victims who were supposed to benefit from the building material after the destruction of their homes and other properties are without shelter and food amid floods across the country.

Donors must, as a matter of urgency, launch a forensic investigation at Eswatini Red Cross, the Management there bought building materials worth millions but that material never reached the poor emaSwati.

But the investigation must not only focus on receipts, Director Danger Nhlabatsi must account and show the donors and the Nation, each and every home that was renovated with the building material purchased with the donor funds.

Furthermore, the list of emaSwati at Ngculwini and other areas whose names were registered for assistance must correspond with the number of homes renovated.

Personally, I am tired of these alleged thieves in the corridors of power who are stealing even donations from international organizations.

In this country, emaSwati are paying tax but those taxes are not used to assist poor and vulnerable citizens as per the social contract.

But when international donors try to assist, those who are powerful and politically connected steal the donations meant to assist the poor citizens.

In conclusion, let me bring to the attention of the Eswatini Red Cross Director that, I will be waiting for accountability on how the recent storm international donations were utilized.

But I will be producing more evidence regarding the corruption within that organization and at the end, we want to see residents of Ngculwini and other areas “who are victims of the recent storms” receiving what is due to them.