Lobamba – Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament Hon. Marwick Khumalo has warned of what he described as a movement aimed at crippling and destroying The Luke Commission (TLC), accusing Parliament of debating serious allegations against the healthcare organisation without first establishing the facts.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on TLC allegations, Khumalo said the negative narrative surrounding the organisation had reached Parliament and could damage an institution that has become an important part of Eswatini’s healthcare system.
“It is clear that there is a movement with an agenda to cripple and destroy TLC. The movement has gone as far as Parliament,” Khumalo alleged.
He said MPs should conduct proper research before bringing motions to the House, particularly when dealing with allegations that could damage an organisation’s reputation.
“The mover of the motion was supposed to do research first to know if they got the E50 million TLC as approved by the House,” he said.
Khumalo questioned claims surrounding the E50 million said to have been allocated to TLC, arguing that the organisation had not received the full amount being discussed.
“This matter has almost been on the table for almost three years now, but TLC did not get that E50 million,” he said.
He warned MPs against presenting information that had not been verified.
“When you raise a motion, you should be objective. Ungasifaki intfo lengasiyo,” he said.
Senate questions E50m
Senators, including Princess Ncengencenge, Princess Temaswati, Lizzie Nkosi and Sigombeni Dlamini, have questioned the justification for providing substantial public funding to TLC while public hospitals and clinics continue to face challenges.
Questions have also been raised about financial accountability and whether TLC provides adequate audited financial information regarding public funds received.
Princess Ncengencenge questioned the proposed E50 million allocation, pointing to the substantial funding TLC had received previously and questioning why more public money should continue going to the organisation when Government health facilities were struggling with shortages of essential medicines and vaccines.
The concerns have placed TLC at the centre of a growing debate over whether public money should continue supporting a healthcare institution outside the direct Government hospital system.
However, Khumalo argued that Parliament should first establish exactly how much money TLC had received before drawing conclusions.
‘Senators always with the PM’
Khumalo also commented on the position being taken by Senators on the TLC funding matter.
Honourable Mzwandile Masiphula Mamba of Khubutha had alleged that Senators were blaming the House of Assembly over the E50 million issue.
“And so what, Speaker?” Khumalo said.
He questioned whether it was surprising that Senators had taken a particular position on the matter.
“Have you ever doubted, Speaker, that Senators on this matter they have always been with the Prime Minister?” Khumalo asked.
Khumalo said Members of Parliament in the House of Assembly would continue to speak for the people who elected them.
“Tsine sitobe solo sikhulumela bantfu who chosen us,” he said.
He said MPs would continue to speak without fear or favour.
“Will speak without fear and favour,” he said.
Khumalo claimed that some Senators appeared to accept or follow a position simply because it had been expressed by the Prime Minister.
He referred to the expression “kushiwo nguBabe”, meaning “it is what Father said”, using it to suggest that some people took a position because it had been expressed by the Prime Minister.
“Lakushoko ngale batsatsa ngekutsi kushiwo nguBabe,” he said, drawing laughter from MPs.
Parliament approved patient charges
Khumalo also defended TLC’s decision to charge patients for services.
He reminded the House that Parliament had previously agreed that TLC should charge for services rendered, provided that patients were not discriminated against.
The decision, he said, was intended to ensure that TLC did not become completely dependent on Government.
According to Khumalo, the organisation was not doing anything wrong by charging for services under the arrangement approved by Parliament.
The argument was also supported by Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga, who said MPs themselves had recommended that TLC charge patients.
Mhlanga said the organisation had entered the healthcare space at a time when the country’s public health system was under severe pressure.
“TLC came at a time where our health systems were collapsing and it rescued a lot of emaSwati,” he said.
He warned against simply allowing TLC to collapse at a time when the public health system was still facing challenges.
“Let us fix TLC. We cannot now let it go in the current state of our health systems,” Mhlanga said.
He also questioned whether the country’s public hospitals would be able to immediately take over the services currently provided by TLC.
Mhlanga pointed to Good Shepherd Hospital and Nazarene Hospital as examples of institutions outside the conventional Government hospital system that continue to contribute to healthcare delivery.
Serious allegations
The parliamentary debate has also brought renewed attention to several allegations involving TLC.
These include claims of unfair employment contracts, alleged unlawful termination of workers, victimisation and intimidation of employees who raised concerns.
Former employees have also raised complaints about working conditions, employment benefits, working hours and overtime payments.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has reportedly identified labour-related violations following an inspection at TLC.
However, the allegations remain matters requiring proper investigation and response from the organisation and relevant authorities.
TLC has also faced allegations concerning patient care and medical practices.
These include claims about the handling and use of medication, allegations that inappropriate or expired medicines were administered to patients, claims concerning the involvement of unqualified personnel in clinical duties and concerns about mortuary and patient-care procedures.
The seriousness of these allegations has increased calls for proper investigation and accountability.
TLC has disputed some public allegations and has issued statements defending its operations, financial accountability and healthcare record. The organisation says it has undergone board-mandated audits and has provided responses to allegations raised publicly.
‘Get the facts first’
Khumalo said the same standard of verification should apply to the broader information presented to Parliament.
He referred to claims that 1,033 houses had been built for vulnerable emaSwati.
He noted that MPs, including David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala and Welcome Dlamini, had questioned the Prime Minister over the whereabouts of the houses.
Khumalo also referred to claims presented to the House that 90 per cent of medicines had arrived at hospitals and clinics and that 16,000 jobs had been created for young people.
He argued that some official claims appeared to differ from the reality experienced by citizens.
For him, the TLC controversy was therefore part of a bigger problem concerning accountability, leadership and the accuracy of information presented to Parliament.
Prime Minister’s role questioned
Khumalo further questioned the increasing involvement of the Prime Minister in matters normally handled by specific Government ministries and institutions.
He raised concerns over Cabinet Office becoming involved in disputes involving aggrieved workers when the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC), under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, exists to deal with labour disputes.
He cited former TLC employees who reportedly met the Prime Minister to raise their grievances.
The Mp also questioned the Prime Minister’s involvement in education and health matters, including issues surrounding the Eswatini Medical Christian University.
He referred to comments attributed to the Prime Minister regarding medication allegedly used in treating patients and questioned whether the Prime Minister had the medical qualifications to make such pronouncements.
“Is the PM a qualified medical doctor?” Khumalo asked.
He also questioned whether Cabinet ministers were fully informed about reports being discussed or presented by the Prime Minister.
‘Wrong leadership’
Hon. Marwick Khumalo said the issues being raised in Parliament pointed to a wider problem of leadership in the country.
“The problem in this country is we have wrong leadership,” Khumalo said.
He argued that leaders should follow the right processes, verify information and allow the relevant institutions to deal with matters within their areas of responsibility.
He said Parliament should not allow unverified information or political interests to determine how important national institutions are treated.
TLC debate exposes bigger health question
The parliamentary dispute has now developed beyond the question of whether TLC should receive Government funding.
It has opened a wider debate about the role of non-state healthcare providers in a country where the public health system continues to face pressure.
Supporters of TLC argue that the organisation has filled critical gaps in healthcare delivery and provided services to thousands of emaSwati.
Critics, however, want stronger accountability over public funds and answers to allegations involving labour practices, medicines and patient care.
The disagreement also raises a fundamental question: should Government continue supporting institutions such as TLC, and if so, under what conditions?
For Khumalo, the immediate answer is that Parliament must establish the facts before reaching conclusions.
“Before we talk about the allegations of TLC, we should have gone and found facts first,” he said.
As Parliament continues debating the organisation’s future, the challenge will be to ensure that political disagreements do not overshadow the central issue – the need for accessible, safe and accountable healthcare for emaSwati.
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