Eswatini government offices crumbling
By Zwelethu Dlamini
Almost a year after the government led by Russell Mmiso Dlamini took over, the decline and deteriorating standards continue unabated despite promises for a drastic turnaround.
This government, appointed by King Mswati III into office in November 2023, found a dysfunctional health system and almost a year later, the situation has not improved despite the appointment of a special cabinet team to at least speed up the acquisition of drugs.
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) is in an appalling condition with barely anything functioning and minister of education, Owen Nxumalo has appointed a team to look into the state of the institution of higher learning.
Worse still, government offices are in a state of disarray, plagued by deteriorating infrastructure and inconsistent enforcement practices. Civil servants are struggling to perform their duties, while the public grows increasingly frustrated with the poor service delivery. The situation has reached a crisis point, with widespread dysfunction across multiple ministries, leaving essential services crippled and critical operations hampered.
One of the most affected institutions is the Ministry of Public Service, which narrowly escaped a devastating fire earlier this year. The fire, reportedly caused by an electrical fault, severely damaged important files, documents, and equipment. The ministry’s headquarters were left in disrepair, and months later, the damage remains unaddressed. This has significantly impacted the ministry’s operations, with employees sharing limited resources, broken amenities such as toilets, and vital documents scattered haphazardly.
“This has become a serious problem. Without proper resources, we can’t deliver the services we are supposed to,” one official remarked. The disorganization extends beyond the Ministry of Public Service, with other government buildings facing similar challenges.
The building housing the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is also in a state of neglect. Parking congestion has become a significant issue, with old, damaged government vehicles cluttering the area. These vehicles should have been sent to the Central Transport Administration (CTA) for repairs, but instead, they are left to rust, taking up valuable parking spaces and exacerbating the already severe congestion.
An officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs noted, “Just look at the parking area—there are dozens of old, unused vehicles here. They’re blocking space and frustrating everyone, both employees and the public.” The lack of basic repairs has left employees grappling with broken furniture, faulty amenities, and a haphazard storage system for critical documents and exhibits.
Civil servants have raised alarms about the careless handling of these documents, noting that it violates various laws and poses a serious risk to the security of personal information.
“This is a major problem. The scattered documents include sensitive details about people’s identities, and if these fall into the wrong hands, they could be used to commit crimes,” said Joe Vilakati, a concerned civil servant. Another officer, Sabelo Dlamini, added that the scattered files make it difficult for employees to assist clients in a timely manner. “We’re dealing with important documents here, like citizenship files. When we can’t find them, it causes unnecessary delays.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for the registration of births, marriages, deaths, and the issuance of identity cards, plays a crucial role in maintaining national security and upholding the rights of citizens. However, the chaotic state of its offices undermines these objectives, leaving the ministry unable to meet the high standards it promises in its mission statement. While the ministry pledges to serve with professionalism and integrity, the unsecured and scattered documents point to a significant gap between its values and operations.
The risk posed by this mismanagement extends beyond delays in service delivery. Some of the misplaced files are essential to corruption investigations involving Home Affairs officers. “These files are evidence in important corruption cases. If they go missing, it will undermine these investigations,” Dlamini warned, adding that the current state of disarray represents negligence at its worst.
Members of the public are also concerned about the lack of security for personal information. Phindile Vilakati, a citizen who witnessed the situation firsthand, expressed her frustration. “It’s untidy and unsafe. Our personal information is just lying around for anyone to see or steal,” she said.
Similarly, at the Mbabane Police Station, the failure to maintain essential infrastructure and untidy keeping of exhibits/ recovered goods next to the reception have raised serious concerns. Visitors to the station are greeted with piles of files and exhibits near the reception area, highlighting the severity of the issue.
In addition to these infrastructural issues, a controversial enforcement practice by Eswatini Parking Company has further fuelled public frustration. The company has been contracted to clamp vehicles within the interministerial building road, but the lack of clear signage or public notice has led to widespread outcry. Many motorists, including government employees, find their vehicles clamped without any prior warning, leading to frustration and confusion.
“I came out of the Ministry of Home Affairs and found my car clamped. There were no signs anywhere. Now I have to pay a fine of E100. This is unfair,” said Maswazi Mdluli, one motorist who was affected by the clamping. The Pakani official claimed that they had been operating there for over five months. Another official at the Eswatini Parking offices who did not want to disclose her name saying she will send written responses or a statement to Inhlase on Tuesday said there was no need for them to put signs warning motorists that their vehicles would be clamped if parked near the road leading to the interministerial building.
“Every driver knows that there is no parking near the road to the government ministries hence no need for signage or parking agent. That road belongs to the Mbabane City Council which contracted us we do not clamp them when they are in the compound of the offices but when in the road,” she said.
Inside the government buildings, the situation remains chaotic. Thousands of files are left lying on the ground, raising concerns about the security of important government documents. The lack of a modernized storage system has compounded the issue, as employees are forced to rely on outdated manual methods to manage critical records.
The issue of mismanaged public records in Eswatini is not new. In March 2021, Princess Sikhanyiso, then Minister of ICT, presented the Eswatini National Archives and Records Service Bill 2020, highlighting the importance of preserving the nation’s records. She emphasized the role that well-managed records play in increasing transparency, accountability, and aiding the fight against corruption.
“The current Archives Act, dating back to 1971, is outdated. It doesn’t address the management of active or electronic records, which is a major gap,” Princess Sikhanyiso said. The new bill seeks to modernize the approach to records management by regulating electronic records and ensuring that all government documents remain secure and accessible throughout their lifecycle.
Amidst these challenges, the Ministry of Home Affairs has acknowledged the infrastructural problems. Mlandvo Dlamini, from the ministry’s communications office, stated that the clamping initiative was introduced to address parking congestion and safety concerns. He admitted that the presence of old, broken-down vehicles was contributing to the problem, but assured the public that efforts were underway to fix the issue.
On the topic of scattered documents, Dlamini explained that ongoing renovations had led to space constraints, but a temporary storage facility had been identified to securely store the documents until the renovations were complete. He also revealed that the ministry was working towards implementing a digital archiving system to improve the security and efficiency of managing government records.
“We understand the public’s concerns, and we’re taking steps to address them. Our goal is to modernize our approach to information storage and ensure that sensitive information is kept secure,” Dlamini said.
