By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane, the suspended SwaziMed Chief Executive Officer(CEO) is clearly out of touch with reality.

When the corruption scandal that was first published by this Swaziland News erupted, he rushed to captured newspapers trying to do damage control while attempting to evade accountability of public funds.

The suspended SwaziMed CEO failed to understand that, the era of media capture where public figures would just ‘manage’ the Times and Observer to evade accountability is over, it’s time for transparency, accountability and good governance.

But the conduct of removed Chairman Sammy Dlamini got me worried because under normal circumstances and/or in terms of Corporate Governance principles, the  Governing Board has a legal obligation to hold the CEO accountable and demand accountability.

The investigation by this publication into the allegation of corruption within SwaziMed was launched after high profile sources informed us that, CEO Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane attempted to remove Board member Sibusiso Nhleko, the Eswatini MTN Head of Corporate Services who questioned him on allegations of corruption.

Indeed, we are where we are today with the matter dominating the public discourse after captured newspapers failed to sabotage it, because of Simelane’s decision to undermine the authority of a Board member.

The conduct of the CEO was an indication that, he was refusing to account to the Board hence we saw a need to launch an investigation into the operations of SwaziMed subsequent, to the breakdown in the administration of the medical scheme at the Governing Board level.

Sammy Dlamini is also the Chairman of the Public Service Pension Fund(PSPF) and,King Mswati wanted him to become the Prime Minister of this country.

I don’t think Sammy Dlamini is ready to destroy his reputation by continuing with the incubation of corruption because the SwaziMed corruption scandal is yet to develop.

Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane decided to publish financials through a press statement because he is fully aware that, we are closing in and the investigation is now at an advanced stage.

The question is; what prevented Simelane as the CEO, from accounting to the Board of Directors?.

The mere fact that, the CEO went as far as thretening to shoot and kill the Interim Board Chairman Bheki Maziya is an indication that, Simelane is becoming more frustrated amid demand for accountability of public funds and therefore, his conduct and frustration suggests that, the investigation must intensify within SwaziMed.

Any public figure who suddenly becomes emotional when questioned or challenged to account for public funds, might be incubating, involved or complicit to corruption and therefore, that public figure must be investigated accordingly.

In conclusion, let me warn removed SwaziMed Board Chairman Sammy Dlamini whom I know that, this matter involves the lives of emaSwati who are now struggling to access quality healthcare despite paying for medical aid.

It is therefore important for Dlamini to stand on the side of the truth not to side with Peter ‘Samora’ Simelane, an arrogant alleged corrupt thief.

After concluding the investigation at SwaziMed, we are moving to the Eswatini Football Association(EFA) where Simelane is the President, so it’s never too late for Sammy Dlamini to stand on the side of the truth,after-all, he has integrity to protect.

But what gives me hope that, Sammy Dlamini might consider standing on the side of the truth is that, when this scandal erupted, he was honest and confirmed that, “there are challenges within SwaziMed but those challenges are being addressed”.