DANGEROUS CRIMINALS DUMPED IN ESWATINI: ATTORNEY GENERAL BLASTS PM FOR SECRET DEAL WITH US
In a move that has left the nation shocked and seething, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has come under heavy fire from Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo for unilaterally facilitating the dumping of dangerous foreign criminals in Eswatini without the knowledge or consent of Cabinet or the Attorney General’s Office. The five men, convicted of heinous crimes including child rape, murder, and armed robbery in countries such as Yemen, Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, and Vietnam, were secretly deported to Eswatini by the United States under mysterious circumstances.
What followed was a heated storm within the Cabinet WhatsApp group on Wednesday afternoon, as Ministers demanded answers on why such a grave decision had been made without their input. Shockingly, the Prime Minister arrogantly admitted he kept the information from them because “Ministers were going to leak the information” to independent journalist and Swaziland News editor, Zweli Martin Dlamini.
Instead of showing remorse, the PM doubled down on his actions during a press conference where he confirmed the presence of the criminals in Swazi prisons, casually referring to them as “tivakashi teNkhosi” – the King’s guests – as if they were here for a royal banquet and not for serving sentences of unspeakable crimes.
But it was the bold intervention of Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo that truly exposed the unconstitutional nature of this operation. Quoting Section 77 of the country’s Constitution, the AG reminded the Prime Minister and the Cabinet that “all agreements, treaties, conventions or documents by whatever name called” must involve the Attorney General. By sidelining the AG and Cabinet, the Prime Minister not only broke protocol — he violated the Constitution.
The AG’s wrath extended to Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli, who hastily released a government statement attempting to justify the PM’s actions — without proper consultation. It’s clear now that this was a cover-up effort, coordinated to calm a brewing storm rather than to inform the nation transparently.
Let’s be honest: the Prime Minister has once again demonstrated his disregard for democratic governance, transparency, and the sovereignty of the people of Eswatini. He facilitated the dumping of criminals into our homeland behind the backs of his own Cabinet. He treated elected and appointed officials as irrelevant bystanders. And even worse, he viewed the nation’s legitimate right to know as a threat, not a responsibility.
This scandal opens a terrifying chapter for our people. Why is Eswatini being used as a dumping ground for the world’s most dangerous offenders? What deals are being signed in secret without the oversight of legal institutions? How long will the people of Eswatini be kept in the dark while their own government treats them as voiceless, powerless spectators?
We cannot ignore the pattern here. A Prime Minister who already has a cloud over his head for the R200 million COVID-19 fund scandal is now at the centre of yet another disaster — this time involving foreign criminals. And rather than owning up, he blames leaks and justifies secrecy.
The real danger is not just the criminals in our prisons — it’s the criminality happening in high office, behind closed doors, by those meant to protect the nation. If Eswatini had a functioning democracy, there would be calls for resignations and a public inquiry. Instead, all we get is silence from those who benefit from the system and scripted press conferences meant to insult our intelligence.
The people of Eswatini deserve better than this. We deserve safety, transparency, and leaders who serve us, not foreign interests. Let this be a wake-up call: our country is being sold piece by piece while we watch. It’s time to demand answers — and accountability.
