Swazi Observer

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RSTP BOARD IN SHAMBLES

By Bodwa Mbingo | 2020-10-11

The Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) Board is such a shambles that the ICT minister is already shopping around for a new chairperson and at least three other new members.

This is barely two months after entrusting this new board with the task of ‘ensuring that RSTP reaches its full potential and benefits Emaswati’.

This newly-installed board is such a mess that the acting Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Manqoba Khumalo is reported to have withdrawn the appointment of Professor Theodore Davis after the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) objected about his inclusion in the board.

Ironically, Davis, who is an American citizen, is a former lecturer at UNESWA.

The minister appointed a board made up of at least four members who were all based outside the country.

This has backfired badly, with the Chairperson Dr. Phindile Masangane resigning on October 2, the day the board was to converge for its first official meeting.

It is understood that another member of the board of directors also tendered his resignation following enquiries about his nationality.

The chairperson of the board is known to have informed the minister that she could no longer carry on with the responsibility as she is based in South Africa. Questions have also been raised pertaining to her also holding a South African citizenship.

It does not end there as two board members, Ndzingeko Dlamini and the South Africa-based Phiwa Nkambule have also relinquished their positions in the board.

All this, therefore, raises serious questions on the vetting process that was employed before the acting ICT minister unveiled the new board.

Minister Khumalo concedes that they are in the process of filling some spaces left in the board although he does not want to commit himself on the status of each board member.

Adamant

“I will soon be reporting about the developments in the board with the purpose of replacing any members that have left,” he says briefly.

However, according to papers seen by the Sunday Observer, Masangane does hold citizenship in both Eswatini and South Africa.

She is, however, adamant that her sudden resignation had nothing to do with her citizenship as she did declare having acquired South African citizenship to government upon her appointment. She explains that her resignation had everything to do with what is good for the organisation as opposed to what is good for just her as an individual.

“I do confirm the resignation from the RSTP Board. I realised that there is a lot that needs to be done at RSTP and with my current responsibilities I wouldn’t be able to do it.

I also realise that it does need someone who is based in Swaziland,” she explains.

The departures leave the minister with only two board members in Sipho Vilakati, who is the Director Computer Services under the same ministry, and Simile Dlamini-Mwapea, who is Business Strategist at Ncedle Property Managers.

According to her particulars, Masangane holds a PhD in Chemistry, an MBA from Wits Business School and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Eswatini. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the upstream oil and gas regulatory authority, Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA).

She studied and also lectured at UNESWA.

Professor Davis, on the other hand, is a Fulbright Scholar from the United States. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Eswatini, Faculty of Commerce, as well as the Interim Director of the Entrepreneurship and Business Development Centre.

Furthermore, he was an Assistant Professor at State University of New York College at Buffalo and did some work for Harvard University.

Chaired

Currently, he is the Vice -president, Chief Administration Officer at J.B and Associates, a small advisory firm that specialises in the areas of management, and public relations by furnishing assistance to the management of private, non-profit, and public small to medium size organisations.

The new board replaced the one that was chaired by Professor Musa Dube who was deputised by Dr Rejoice Maseko.

The former board was further complemented by Dr Velephi Okello (Remuneration Committee Chairperson), Ndumiso Ngozo (Audit and Finance committee Chairperson) and board members, Phiwa Nkambule, who was retained, Professor Cebisile Magagula and Ndzingeko Dlamini, who was also retained.

The Board Secretary remains Vumile Dlamini, who is the RSTP Chief Executive Officer.

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