BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has warned members of the public and the business community against a fraudulent procurement document being circulated in the name of the ministry.
In a public notice issued today, Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the ministry said it had become aware of a fake document titled “Request for Proposals: Supply and Delivery of Reinforced Concrete Diamond Saw Blades” being distributed through email and other online platforms.
The ministry categorically stated that the purported Request for Proposals (RFP) was neither issued nor authorised by government.
According to the statement signed by Principal Secretary Lindiwe Mbingo, the fraudulent document appears to misuse the name and identity of a ministry official in an attempt to mislead members of the public, suppliers and businesses.
FAKE EMAIL
The ministry also singled out an email address being used in connection with the fraudulent RFP, warning that it does not belong to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy.
The ministry said any communication received from the email address claiming to represent it should be treated as fraudulent and disregarded.
It further clarified that it has not initiated any procurement process for the supply and delivery of reinforced concrete diamond saw blades.
The ministry also dismissed claims contained in the fake document that the procurement was supported by funding from the World Bank or the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
“The Ministry has not received, applied for, or referenced any grant funding from the World Bank or the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for this purpose,” the statement reads.
PUBLIC URGED TO BE VIGILANT
The warning comes as government procurement processes increasingly involve electronic communication, creating opportunities for fraudsters to impersonate government institutions and officials.
The ministry has urged members of the public, suppliers, contractors and other stakeholders to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited procurement-related communications purportedly issued on its behalf.
Recipients have been advised not to respond to suspicious communications, make payments, click on suspicious links or provide personal, financial or business information before verifying the authenticity of the communication through official government channels.
The ministry emphasised that legitimate procurement opportunities and related notices are communicated through authorised government platforms, including its official website and the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA).
Stakeholders have therefore been encouraged to verify tender and procurement notices through these official channels before taking any action.
MINISTRY CONDEMNS IMPERSONATION
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy strongly condemned what it described as the fraudulent use of its name, officials’ identities and unauthorised email addresses to deceive members of the public and the business community.
It said the matter was being treated seriously and called on anyone who had received the fraudulent RFP or any related suspicious communication to report it to the relevant authorities immediately.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity in its procurement processes, saying it would continue taking appropriate measures to protect the public and business community from fraudulent activities carried out in its name.
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(Courtesy Pic)
