BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
LOBAMBA– Parliament’s Select Committee investigating operational concerns at the Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) and Eswatini TV has recommended an overhaul of the allocation of international assignments and training opportunities, as well as an independent audit into employee qualification records and promotion processes at the two public broadcasters.
The recommendations are contained in the committee’s report, tabled before the House of Assembly after an inquiry into complaints raised by employees regarding labour practices, governance, resource shortages and human resource management challenges.
The committee, chaired by Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo, found that the allocation of international travel and professional development opportunities lacked transparency and consistency, resulting in perceptions of favouritism and unequal access among employees.
It recommended that the Minister responsible for Information, Communication and Technology, within 21 days of adoption of the report, direct the management of EBIS and Eswatini TV to develop and implement transparent, merit-based and equitable criteria for the allocation of international assignments and training opportunities.
The committee further recommended the establishment of an internal monitoring framework to ensure fair distribution of opportunities across departments and staff levels.
“The approved framework should be submitted to the House within seven days for oversight purposes,” reads the recommendation.
During the inquiry, employees from both institutions alleged that international assignments and training opportunities were repeatedly allocated to the same individuals, leaving other suitably qualified officers overlooked despite having similar academic qualifications and professional experience.
An EBIS employee told the committee that “the same people are repeatedly considered for workshops and international trips while others are overlooked regardless of experience or qualifications.”
However, another employee defended the concentration of international assignments within the newsroom, stating that such deployments were linked to operational responsibilities because the newsroom was responsible for local, regional and international news coverage.
“The newsroom is solely responsible for news coverage locally, regionally and internationally, and it is only prudent that those accountable for news output undertake those assignments,” the employee submitted.
The committee also received allegations relating to the handling of travel allowances, with some employees claiming that officers travelling on official assignments did not always receive their full entitlements.
At Eswatini TV, employees alleged that per diem payments were reduced before being paid to officers, while others claimed that officials were expected to surrender part of their allowances to superiors responsible for approving or facilitating assignments.
The committee noted that these allegations had contributed to perceptions of unfairness and undermined confidence in the integrity of the administration of official travel opportunities.
The Eswatini National Association of Journalists (ESNAJ), which also appeared before the committee, informed Parliament that it had previously received complaints from employees of both broadcasters relating to working conditions, travel arrangements and institutional governance.
ESNAJ told the committee that some journalists undertaking international assignments had experienced financial difficulties arising from reduced travel allocations, with some allegedly forced to seek alternative accommodation arrangements while away on official duties.
The association said the matter had been raised with Eswatini TV management, which attributed the situation to financial constraints facing the institution.
Meanwhile, the committee has recommended an independent audit of qualification records and promotion processes at EBIS and Eswatini TV following allegations concerning the integrity of employee records.
The committee found that evidence presented during the inquiry raised concerns regarding human resource administration, particularly the management and verification of qualification records during promotion processes.
It received allegations that an employee’s highest academic qualifications were removed from her personal file during a promotion process and were only discovered after a supervisor had been transferred.
The committee also received allegations questioning the authenticity and recognition of certain qualifications used by some officers during promotion processes.
Employees alleged that some officers had progressed from diploma qualifications directly to master’s degrees, while others were said to have completed degree programmes within unusually short periods.
The committee, however, emphasised that it was not mandated to determine the truthfulness of the allegations but stated that such concerns affected confidence in the fairness and integrity of promotion systems.
It recommended that the Minister for Information, Communication and Technology, Savannah Maziya together with the Minister responsible for Public Service, Mabulala Maseko should within three months of adoption of the report facilitate an independent audit of personnel records and qualification verification procedures at the two institutions.
The audit will specifically focus on the integrity of promotion processes, safeguarding of employee records and compliance with public service policies.
“Where the audit establishes that any employee suffered prejudice as a result of administrative irregularities or the improper handling of personnel records, the Ministries should take appropriate action,” reads the recommendation.
The committee further recommended that the outcome of the audit, together with corrective measures taken, should be reported to Parliament within 14 days after completion.
Beyond travel and qualifications, the committee identified broader governance challenges affecting the two broadcasters.
It found that labour relations at EBIS and Eswatini TV were characterised by prolonged working hours without corresponding compensation, delayed settlement of employee claims, ineffective grievance mechanisms, acting appointments without adequate remuneration and allegations of victimisation.
The committee also found that inadequate operational resources, including shortages of broadcasting equipment, computers, transport and reliable internet connectivity, continued to affect service delivery.
It recommended that Government secure resources for essential operational tools, modern broadcasting equipment, information technology infrastructure and the installation of a functional uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system at EBIS.
The committee further called for a review of organisational structures, reporting lines, promotion frameworks and internal communication systems to strengthen transparency, accountability and workplace cohesion.
It said the challenges affecting the two broadcasters were capable of being resolved through decisive administrative action, executive oversight and continued parliamentary monitoring.
“The implementation of the recommendations contained in this report will contribute towards strengthening governance, restoring employee confidence, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring that EBIS and Eswatini TV continue to fulfil their constitutional and national mandate as trusted public broadcasting institutions,” the committee concluded.
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(Courtesy Pic)
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