The Ministry of Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) Principal Secretary (PS) Phesheya Dube has been replaced by Andreas Mshishimba Dlamini in a reshuffle of four principal secretaries announced this week.
Dube’s removal from the controlling officer position came as a surprise to many within the public sector and beyond. Notably, he was not among the PSs approaching the statutory retirement age of 60, nor was he assigned to another ministry.
This unexpected departure stands in sharp contrast to the three other PSs replaced, each already retired or confirmed to be reaching retirement this year.
The reshuffle was announced at a press conference held at Hospital Hill, where Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini was flanked by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Simanga Mamba, CSC member Princess Sibahle, and Secretary to Cabinet Victor Nxumalo. The premier expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III for blessing the appointments, reiterating that the decisions followed His Majesty’s approval.
Phesheya Dube, who had previously served as Director of Media in the same ministry, was appointed PS less than three years ago, replacing Maxwell Masuku. His successor, Andreas Mshishimba Dlamini, served as Director of Communications for the past eight years and acted as CEO at Eswatini TV.
According to the Constitution, PS appointments operate on renewable five-year terms, granted by the King on the advice of the CSC, as outlined in Section 76. However, legal experts have raised concerns about the practice of allowing many PSs to remain in office indefinitely. In practice, the CSC plays an advisory role in appointments, redeployment, or removals, with the King making the final decision.
In the case of Dube, CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba stated that Dube’s next posting would be announced in due course. “His redeployment will be handled administratively — today was for appointments,” said Mamba, providing no further details.
Among the new appointees, Bheki Bhembe returns to government service after serving as an economic adviser with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kenya. He now takes up the role of PS in the Prime Minister’s Office and Private Cabinet, replacing Bertram Stewart, who is among those reaching retirement this year.
Bhembe is a seasoned economist with over 20 years of experience in public finance, development economics, and macroeconomic policy. His earlier service includes senior positions in the ministries of Economic Planning and Finance.
Naniki Mnisi has been appointed PS in the Ministry of Education and Training, replacing Bheki Gama, another official nearing retirement. Mnisi, who acted in the position during Gama’s sick leave, was previously Under Secretary in the same ministry and held the same role in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Mthunzi Shabangu, who has served as Commissioner of Labour since 2020, is now the PS in the Ministry of Public Service, filling the vacancy left by Sipho Tsabedze. Tsabedze’s departure came after a legal battle with the CSC, following claims he had altered his date of birth in official documents.
The CSC ruled that Tsabedze’s appointment should end in February 2025, based on the date recorded when he was first appointed. Tsabedze contested this, stating that errors in his birth records were beyond his control. In an affidavit, he explained that his grandfather had guessed his date of birth when enrolling him in school — an error later corrected with his mother’s input. He argued the CSC’s ruling was procedurally unjust.
Shabangu, a lawyer by profession admitted to the High Court in 2004, previously served as Senior Commissioner for Legal Services at the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC). He also chaired the Labour Advisory Board, a tripartite statutory body advising the Minister of Labour and Social Security.
Eswatini Observer Press Reader
