RSTP CEO without a contract

• CEO Dlamini is indeed without a contract and this state of affairs is impeding on business continuity at RSTP
• the disciplinary case against Mfanzile Shongwe is still ongoing under acute interest from the public given that RSTP is a Public Enterprise or Authority, which is fully funded from public funds

Phocweni-The Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Science and Technology Park’s (RSTP) Chief Executive Officer, Vumile Dlamini is currently working at the state entity without a contract. According to sources at the disposal of the Independent News, Dlamini’s contract expired around August 2021.

Dlamini’s contract however, could still be renewed at any time at the prerogative of the entity’s board that is chaired by Sthofeni Ginindza. Other members of the board of directors include Prince Hlangusemphi, Walter Bennet, Dr Gugu Sibandze, and Mrs Simile Muwape.

The Royal Science and technology park which was officially opened in August 2018 was expected to generate an initial annual turnover of about E 10 billion. At the time His Majesty King Mswati mentioned that Science and Technology Parks are the kind of projects that have been seen to literally transform countries to first world status as they are the heart and engines that propel the countries’ economies.

This situation comes at a time when Dlamini is embroiled in a serious disciplinary procedure with the COO of the RSTP Mfanzile Shongwe. Shongwe is alleged to have breached Clause 4.2 and/or Clause 4.4 and/or Clause 5.1 of the disciplinary policy and/or brought the organisation into disrepute and/or scandalised the Chief Executive Officer, the Human Resources Manager and the Finance Manager by either generating or receiving and distributing or being in unexplained possession of a defamatory document labelled “Wide Spread Looting at RSTP-Royal Science and Technology Park.

The second charge that has been levelled against Shongwe is that he allegedly breached Clause 4.2 and/or Clause 4.2 and/or Clause 5.1 of disciplinary policy in that in or about March 2019 whilst on an official trip to India in a conversation with  Principal Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, he made false allegations against the Chief Executive Officer, alleging that he inter alia had been “siphoning” money out of the organisation and/or had been wrongfully protecting the Human Resources Assistant who did not qualify for the position and/or that the Chief Executive Officer was using the organisations funds wrongfully for her benefit.

Apparently in response to these allegations Shongwe has come out spitting fire and is said to be refusing to accept the accusations.

After learning that CEO Dlamini is without a contract at RSTP right now, the Independent News sought to verify this information with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology which is the Ministry that is responsible for the RSTP.

In response to the publication, the officials at the Ministry confirmed that CEO Dlamini is indeed without a contract and that this state of affairs is impeding on business continuity. In a communique, the Communications Office at the Ministry stated that “We do acknowledge that the contract of the RSTP CEO has not been renewed, thus impeding on business continuity. However, it is worth mentioning that, the process of appointing Chief Executive Officers is ordinarily the preserve of the Board of Directors who duly make recommendations to the responsible Hon. Minister. In pursuing the appointment of the CEO for the organization, the Ministry has communicated with the Board Chairperson. We believe that the Board of Directors is better positioned to shed more light on the issue. It is our prayer to see the appointment of the CEO expedited.”

In our quest to grant the RSTP a right to respond on the matter a questionnaire was sent to the Chairman of the Board Sthofeni Ginindza enquiring about the employment status of CEO Dlamini. Ginindza is yet to respond to the questionnaire even after a reminder had been sent to him on his WhatsApp platform.

Meanwhile, the disciplinary case against Mfanzile Shongwe is still ongoing under acute interest from the public given that RSTP is a Public Enterprise or Authority, which is fully funded from public funds through the Appropriations Bill, whose employees fall under the category of public officers.