Members of Parliament (MPs) have threatened to block the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) 2026 budget if government fails to appoint a substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO), more than a year after the position became vacant.
The warning was issued during a heated debate in the House of Assembly yesterday, following a motion on the prolonged delay in filling the position. The debate came after Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Savannah Maziya admitted that government had failed to appoint a new CEO.
Ngudzeni MP Charles Ndlovu said Parliament wanted to see a change in how government operates, stressing that the appointment process must be decisive and transparent.
“We want to see change in the way government works, and that change must be catalysed. The right candidate must be appointed, someone who qualifies for the job,” Ndlovu said.
He revealed that although eight candidates had been shortlisted, the top two were reportedly rejected, a situation he described as deeply concerning.
“We have eight shortlisted candidates, but the top two have been rejected. What is happening here? What should the minister of ICT do? This shows a failure to take decisive action. I urge this House that if there is still no CEO, we should not approve the RSTP budget,” he said.
Ndlovu also questioned what government might be concealing regarding the RSTP and called for the release of a forensic audit report on the institution.
Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba questioned when government would begin doing the right thing, noting that the RSTP had operated without a CEO for over a year.
“The minister must hire a CEO, but that is not happening. The RSTP was established to change the lives of Emaswati, yet government is not benefiting from this initiative,” said Lushaba.
He urged the prime minister to intervene, describing the matter as sensitive and critical to national development.
“We see other countries developing while we fail to connect with the developing world. Why is everyone standing in the way of development?” he asked.
Lushaba further called on those obstructing the recruitment process to step aside, saying MPs wanted to see Eswatini attain first-world status.
“The House must allow Minister Savannah Maziya to work so that the country can see development,” he said.
Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo said MPs were in Parliament to receive clarity on when the CEO would finally be appointed.
“Someone is failing. Why is this initiative being destroyed? Why are we allocating money to the RSTP when there is no CEO? If there is a qualified Liswati candidate, let them take the job,” Khumalo said.
He criticised Cabinet for failing to function collectively, alleging that decisions were being influenced by a single individual.
“The Cabinet of 2018–2023 achieved far more in two years than the current Cabinet. This sickness in Cabinet must come to an end. We will not release money where there is no leadership,” he said.
Sigwe MP David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala said MPs had initially been enthusiastic about the establishment of the RSTP but were now disappointed by the prolonged leadership vacuum.
“If Cabinet cannot reach common ground, prime minister must step in to assist Minister Savannah Maziya. If that fails, all parties must come together, discuss the issue, and find a solution,” he said.
Mafutseni MP Sabelo Mtsetfwa described the RSTP matter as complex but defended Minister Maziya, noting that some progress had been made since she assumed office.
“The CEO must have strong ICT knowledge and the right qualifications. As a country, we are facing challenges such as network issues that the RSTP should be addressing. We need a Liswati CEO who understands the needs of the nation,” Mtsetfwa said.
He also called for the release of the forensic audit report on the technology park.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Maziya said she understood Parliament’s desire for Eswatini to achieve first-world status.
“We received 14 applications, but only seven candidates qualified. I then requested that an eighth candidate be added. Among the eight, three were Emaswati and the rest were foreigners,” she explained.
Addressing concerns about hiring foreign nationals, Maziya noted that ICT is a global field.
“There are fears that foreigners will steal information, but this is a global industry. If we want to hire a Liswati, we can, but we must acknowledge that many candidates do not qualify,” she said.
She added that reappointing the former CEO remained an option if Parliament so wished.
“If we want world-class results, we must do the right thing. This is a global world, and we want the best CEO. The board has done its job in trying to find a suitable candidate to handle the challenges at RSTP. Do not blame us if things do not go right,” she said.
