Mbabane– The Municipal Council of Mbabane has dismissed allegations circulating on social media against Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gciniwe Fakudze, insisting they are false, malicious and intended to mislead the public, while maintaining that the suspension of its Information and Public Relations Officer (IPRO), Lucky Tsabedze, is the subject of an internal disciplinary process.
Addressing a media briefing on Thursday, Fakudze rejected claims that Tsabedze’s suspension was linked to photographs he had taken of her for the council’s public platforms, describing the allegations as entirely false and bearing no resemblance to the disciplinary matter before the council.
She said the council would not discuss the details of the case publicly because it was an internal human resources matter subject to due process.
“The council believes in accountability. If there is evidence that I have done anything wrong, there are structures within the council to deal with that. No one is above accountability,” Fakudze said.
She also denied allegations that she insults or verbally abuses employees during staff meetings, challenging anyone with evidence supporting the claims to come forward through the council’s established reporting channels.
The CEO said no formal complaint had been lodged against her through the council’s grievance mechanisms and maintained that the allegations were unfounded.
Her remarks were supported by Mbabane Mayor Thulani Mkhonto, who also dismissed reports linking Tsabedze’s suspension to photographs posted on the council’s social media platforms.
Mkhonto said the disciplinary proceedings had nothing to do with the quality of photographs or public relations work, but formed part of an internal process that the council was legally obliged to handle confidentially.
In a statement issued by the council yesterday, the municipality said it was unable to disclose details of the allegations against the suspended employee while the disciplinary proceedings were underway, citing the need to uphold procedural fairness and employee confidentiality.
“The Information and Public Relations Officer is currently on suspension pending the conclusion of an internal disciplinary process relating to alleged performance-related misconduct,” the statement reads.
The council further stated that allegations and purported charges circulating on social media did not accurately reflect the disciplinary proceedings before it.
He also rejected claims that Fakudze had mistreated employees or used abusive language in the workplace, describing the allegations as entirely unfounded, false and malicious.
The municipality said it remained committed to maintaining a professional, respectful and dignified working environment and that any complaints of workplace misconduct would be dealt with promptly in accordance with the law and the council’s human resources policies.
The council also dismissed allegations that Fakudze secured an Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) loan to finance her international travel.
The Mayor clarified that the loan in question formed part of the ENPF Infrastructure Fund and had been lawfully obtained by the council to finance approved infrastructure maintenance and development projects.
“The facility has never been intended for, or utilised to finance, the personal travel of the Chief Executive Officer or any other official,” the statement said.
The council appealed to members of the public to refrain from speculation while the disciplinary process runs its course and urged the media to verify allegations with relevant authorities before publication in the interest of responsible journalism, accuracy and fairness.
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