MP MARWICK KHUMALO SOUNDS THE ALARM ON PRIME MINISTER’S DRUG PROCUREMENT SCHEME
The political temperature in Eswatini’s Parliament rose sharply this week after Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament, Marwick Khumalo, issued a stern warning against Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s alleged attempts to centralize the procurement of life-saving drugs through state agencies under his direct control.
Khumalo’s concerns come amid growing suspicions surrounding the PM’s intentions to involve the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in the country’s drug procurement process. The MP did not mince his words as he addressed Parliament, expressing alarm over what he sees as a dangerous move that could open the floodgates to even more corruption.
This isn’t the first time Russell Mmiso Dlamini has faced such scrutiny. His tenure as CEO of the NDMA was marred by a damning report from the Auditor General, which exposed the looting of over R200 million in COVID-19 funds meant for disaster response. Now, as he pushes to steer procurement of essential medicines through institutions like NERCHA and NDMA, alarm bells are ringing throughout Parliament.
Marwick Khumalo accused the Prime Minister of bypassing due process and attempting to use backdoor channels to secure control of the drug procurement process. “It’s clear that, the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet did not collectively pass a resolution on this proposal seeking to procure drugs through NERCHA or NDMA,” he said. “Bahlangene ngetulu njengelihlindzafuku,” added Khumalo, suggesting that secretive meetings were held among top-level figures to orchestrate this move without parliamentary oversight.
His statements were met with murmurs of agreement from other MPs, some of whom reminded the Prime Minister—during his presentation of the health crisis report—about the unaccounted COVID-19 funds. Their message was clear: a man with a track record of financial mismanagement should not be trusted with more billions in taxpayer money.
NERCHA, which falls directly under the Office of the Prime Minister, is particularly concerning to critics, as it would give the PM even more unchecked control over the country’s health budget. If allowed to go through with this plan, Russell Dlamini could oversee the procurement of critical drugs with minimal accountability—a scenario that poses a direct threat to transparency and public trust.
While Eswatini continues to suffer from drug shortages in public hospitals and clinics, the solution cannot lie in handing over procurement powers to agencies already tainted by scandal. The Lobamba Lomdzala MP was crystal clear in his call for alternatives: “We must have other suppliers, not NDMA or NERCHA.” This insistence on exploring neutral and independent suppliers highlights the Parliament’s duty to safeguard public funds and ensure efficient service delivery.
In a country already ravaged by poor governance, lack of medical supplies, and crumbling public infrastructure, any hint of corruption in the health sector is a betrayal to the people. The Prime Minister’s move to concentrate procurement under institutions tied to his office cannot be seen as a mere administrative choice—it is a political maneuver that risks deepening an already deadly crisis.
It remains to be seen whether Parliament will stand firm against the PM’s ambitions or once again bow to executive pressure. But one thing is certain: the people of Eswatini deserve transparency, accountability, and a health system that puts lives above looting.
