Eswatini Med has condemned an attempt by some outgoing board members to unlawfully remove its chairman, Sammy Dlamini, and suspend the fund’s principal officer, Peter Simelane. The medical fund confirmed that its governance structure remains intact and that it will proceed with scheduled operations, including its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Tensions escalated when a faction of the outgoing board called a meeting at Hilton Hotel on March 20, 2025. However, police intervened and halted the gathering before it could proceed. In an official statement, Eswatini Med dismissed the group’s actions as illegitimate and insisted that any decisions made outside the authority of the duly constituted board carry no legal weight.
The fund, in consultation with its principal founding shareholder, the Government of Eswatini, reaffirmed that its leadership remains unchanged, with Dlamini as chairman and Simelane as principal officer. It denounced recent statements issued on March 18, purportedly announcing leadership changes, calling them “misleading and unauthorized.”
Eswatini Med warned that unauthorized board meetings and the disclosure of internal discussions on social media violate governance principles and undermine the stability of the organization. It assured members that operations will continue undisrupted, with financial integrity and transparency remaining a priority.
The board has reiterated that only meetings convened by the substantive chairman hold legitimacy. A special meeting held on March 20 confirmed this position, reinforcing the fund’s commitment to strict adherence to governance standards.
The upcoming AGM will also allow members to elect a new board; however, the outgoing members involved in the unlawful actions are not eligible for re-election.
Background
In recent days, tensions have been rising within the Eswatini Med board. Some outgoing members have attempted to challenge the legitimacy of the current leadership, making unauthorized claims of leadership changes. These actions have caused confusion among members and led to an official response from the fund, reaffirming the stability of its operations and governance.
