The Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) has openly challenged the legitimacy of the Commission of Inquiry established by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, arguing that it duplicates an ongoing parliamentary investigation and is compromised by conflicts of interest among its members.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the university’s management and governing council, EMCU said it would cooperate fully with a seven-member Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the institution, but expressed profound concern over what it termed a parallel executive inquiry.
The university maintained that the issues currently under scrutiny are already being investigated through Parliament’s Motion 45/2025 and questioned the necessity of establishing another probe to examine the same matters.
According to EMCU, running two investigations simultaneously into identical allegations amounts to an unnecessary duplication of processes and an avoidable expenditure of public funds.
“While EMCU fully respects the tenets of public accountability and welcomes legitimate scrutiny, the council registers profound concern over the parallel Commission of Enquiry recently ordered by the Prime Minister Russell Dlamini,” the institution stated.
The university further noted that the Office of the Auditor General had already indicated it would conduct a comprehensive audit of EMCU beginning in August 2026, adding another layer of oversight to the institution’s affairs.
A central pillar of EMCU’s rejection of the Prime Minister’s commission is its allegation that key members of the inquiry have direct links to individuals and entities involved in disputes currently affecting the university.
The institution specifically singled out commission chairperson Mbuso Simelane, alleging that he has a longstanding association with Pastor Chong Yung Kim, the founder of the Africa Continent Mission (ACM), which played a central role in establishing the university.
EMCU alleged that Simelane previously served as chairperson of the EMCU Foundation, a fundraising structure established by ACM to mobilise resources for the university independently of government funding and tuition fees.
According to the council, the foundation was active during the tenure of former EMCU Director Sipho Vilakati and allegedly sought to exert influence over the institution’s operational and financial management.
The university claimed that one of the most contentious episodes occurred in 2023 when the foundation proposed the acquisition of a farm valued at E10 million using government subvention funds rather than independently raised resources.
EMCU said the proposal was rejected because it allegedly violated the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) governing the relationship between the Government of Eswatini and ACM.
The institution further alleged that Simelane previously attempted to influence university leadership to extend the contracts of retired executives who are now being investigated over the alleged disappearance of more than E30 million.
“Mr Simelane is a close personal confidant of whistleblower Pastor Chong Yung Kim and served as the Chairman of the EMCU Foundation appointed by Pastor Kim,” the university said.
The council also raised objections to the inclusion of attorney Mangaliso Magagula on the commission.
EMCU pointed out that Magagula’s law firm is currently representing outgoing Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Yang in legal proceedings against both the university and the Ministry of Education and Training.
The university argued that having a lawyer representing a litigant against EMCU participate in an inquiry investigating the institution creates a conflict of interest and undermines the principles of natural justice.
“Having a person’s defence attorney sit on a panel investigating the institution they are suing is a clear violation of natural justice,” EMCU stated.
The university argued that the Parliamentary Select Committee is the appropriate mechanism to investigate the allegations because it was formally established through parliamentary processes and is already actively engaged in examining the institution’s affairs.
EMCU said it remains committed to cooperating with Parliament and looks forward to the completion and adoption of the committee’s final report.
The institution stressed that it does not oppose accountability or oversight but believes investigations should be conducted through legally established and impartial channels.
The PM announced the five member Commission last Thursday and said it was tasked with investigating allegations of maladministration, fraud, governance failures, misconduct and conflicts of interest at EMCU.
He said the commission, was appointed under Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act of 1963. The PM said the newly appointed commission had a clearly defined four-week mandate and was expected to deliver results within that period. When asked by the media if an appointment of another commission whilst parliament had already launched a probe meant lack of trust in the legislature the PM responded to the contrary.
“This is not meant to indicate that Cabinet has no confidence in the work of Parliament,” Dlamini said.
He however noted that the commission would produce results sooner under the timeline that had been established.
In announcing the commission, the Prime Minister said government remained committed to accountability, transparency and good governance across all public institutions.
He said the commission would investigate allegations of impropriety, maladministration, misconduct, fraud and malpractice at EMCU.
Its terms of reference include examining allegations of abuse of authority, dishonesty, collusion, conflicts of interest, governance deficiencies and compliance failures.
The commission is also expected to identify systemic weaknesses that may have contributed to the challenges facing the university and recommend corrective measures.
The university’s rejection of the Prime Minister’s commission comes amid an escalating battle involving university management, ACM leadership and outgoing Vice Chancellor Professor Yang.
EMCU traced the current tensions to disagreements over the management of the institution’s finances, particularly its accumulated reserves.
According to the council, the university suffered severe financial distress between 2013 and early 2020, including a deficit of E47 million and prolonged reliance on bank overdrafts to pay staff salaries.
Management claimed that the institution lacked an operational bursar’s office for six years and that more than E36 million in government funds were allegedly misused during that period.
The university said legal action has since been initiated to recover those funds from former executives.
EMCU further claimed that following the appointment of a government-seconded bursar in 2020, strict financial controls were introduced, resulting in a dramatic turnaround that saw the institution move from a deficit position to more than E55 million in savings and investment reserves.
The council contends that the current controversy stems from attempts by ACM affiliates and former officials to gain access to those reserves.
It alleged that ACM, despite commitments under the Memorandum of Agreement, never contributed operational funding to the university and failed to deliver a previously promised E200 million towards the establishment of a medical school.
The university further alleged that repeated attempts had been made by ACM-linked structures to access public funds held by EMCU.
EMCU’s leadership insists that it has acted to safeguard public resources and restore stability at the institution.
The council said it would continue protecting the university’s finances while cooperating with what it considers legitimate oversight processes.
“We remain cooperative with the lawful Parliamentary Select Committee and await the adoption of its final report,” the institution stated.
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