BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Chairperson of the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Portfolio Committee, Charles Ndlovu, has advised the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) to follow on the footsteps of Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) in appointing a Managing Director (MD).
This was on June 4, 2026 at the Ministry of ICT Conference Room where Minister Savannah Maziya availed or announced Thulani Fakudze as the new EPTC MD. Ndlovu was in the company of the ICT Portfolio Committee member, Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome Dlamini.
“We are pleased to see a Managing Director who has been appointed through proper legal channels and who represents and promotes adherence to lawful procedures,” said Ndlovu.
He said they were cognisant of the fact that a Managing Director appointed through the correct legal instruments and processes will be accountable to the appointing authority.
“It is clear, Honourable Minister, that you will set targets and objectives for him and his team, and failure to achieve those targets would trigger the appropriate legal and administrative accountability measures. This is what makes a properly appointed Managing Director accountable,” he said.
The legislator said the situation was entirely different when an individual is placed in such a position without following the required legal instruments and procedures. In such circumstances, he said, it becomes almost impossible for the Minister to hold that individual accountable, as the proper governance structures would have been bypassed.
He said they therefore hoped that the newly appointed Managing Director will transform the fortunes of EPTC. He said the company has enormous potential, and they were all aware of its capabilities. He said they trusted that he will effectively utilise the skills and expertise of employees, set clear performance targets, and lead the organisation back to the strong position it once occupied.
At the RSTP, we wish to see the same principles being applied. We are aware of reports suggesting that a new Managing Director may be appointed without following the proper legal processes and instruments. We issue a stern warning that such practices must stop. As the ICT Portfolio Committee and Parliament, we will not allow governance procedures to be undermined,” warned the MP.
He said the structures that have been put in place must be respected. He said only a candidate recommended by the Board should be appointed. He added that there were established governance frameworks, roles, and responsibilities that must be followed and if a Cabinet paper is to be submitted, it must go through the appropriate channels.
As Parliament, he said they will hold the Minister accountable for ensuring that all proper procedures are observed. He again emphasised that the same legal processes followed in the appointment of the EPTC Managing Director must also be followed in the case of RSTP.
“We will closely monitor developments at the RSTP. How can an individual who has been appointed unlawfully be held accountable? Governance structures exist for a reason, and they must be respected.
As Parliament, he concluded that they assured EPTC of their full support as it embarks on this new chapter.
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