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MBABANE COUNCIL REFUSES TO RENEW MHLONGOâ€™S CONTRACT

By FORTUNE NDLANGAMANDLA | 2018-07-22

Could this be the end of the road for outgoing Mbabane Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gideon Mhlongo? Information gathered suggests that the Council has declined the ultimatum to renew embattled Mhlongo’s contract given to them. Mhlongo’s contract will expire in nine days which is the end of this month. The issue of Mhlongo’s contract has a detailed background but things became serious when Minister of Housing and Development Phiwayinkhosi Mabuza ordered the Council to renew Mhlongo’s contract. The Council initially took a stand not to renew Mhlongo’s contract in a meeting held on May 25, 2018. In a memorandum dated June 15, 2018, Minister Mabuza said the Council should embark on a contract renewal negotiation process with the outgoing CEO. Minister He further ordered the Council to submit the contract for ministerial consideration by close of business on Friday (July 20, 2018). Minister Mabuza warned the Council that failure to submit the contract would result in Mhlongo’s current contract extention for another five years effective from August 1, 2018. As of Thursday, the Council is said to have has ignored Mabuza’s pressure and stuck to the decisions they had made on May 25. A communiqué carrying the Council’s decision has been forwarded to Minister Mabuza’s office. “They (Councilors) told the minister in the memorandum that they were not going to renew Mhlongo’s contract. They said if the minister has power to renew Mhlongo’s contract, he should do so but the Council is standing to its decision,” a source said. The source went on to add that the minister was further told that should he renew Mhlongo’s contract, he should also anticipate bearing the expenses of paying his salary using the ministry’s monies. It was also obtained that leading to the final decision, some of the councilors motivated that Mhlongo’s contract should be renewed. However, they were outnumbered by those who were against that move. The source added that the minister has no power to renew Mhlongo’s contract. “The clauses he quoted only talk about hiring not renewal of contracts. The law is very clear, it is not ambiguous; Section 3.2 on Mhlongo’s contract states clearly that when it elapses the Council would decide on the contract renewal not the ministry,” the source said. When called to discuss the matter, Minister Mabuza confirmed receiving the communiqué; however, he said he had not opened the envelope carrying the Council’s decision. Therefore, he added that he was in the dark concerning the Council’s decision. “Yes they have written to me but I was not in office, I had a trip. I only came back last night (Friday) so maybe on Monday I will know what is contained in the communiqué. For now I don’t know what they have communicated but I heard that they have written something,” Minister Mabuza said. He said the ministry is yet to meet and look at the Council’s communiqué. He added that the envelope containing the Council’s decision was in his office sealed. On the other hand, Mbabane Municipality Council Mayor Zephaniah Nkambule said he was not in position to discuss the matter with the media. He said for now only the Minister Mabuza was right to talk about the matter. Nkambule said because of the sensitivity of the matter it was important that the issue is handled with vigilance.

How Mhlongo’s troubles began

April 27 Mhlongo was suspended as Mayor Sikhatsi Dlamini revealed allegations concerning tenders as well as his contract which allegedly favoured him in terms of renewal as it gave him more time as opposed to the council which had to indicate six months before expiration whether they were willing to have him return.

May 2 New Mayor Zephaniah Nkambule takes over and Council in Committee selected to investigate allegations against Mhlongo.

May 15 Mhlongo is cleared of allegations by council in committee, however councilors reluctant to renew his contract

May 27 Minister says he has last say on Mhlongo’s contract and furhter gives councilors deadline to renew it.

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