Break in at ESTVA, CFO Maziya’s laptop stolen

MBABANE-UNKNOWN people have broken into the Eswatini Television Authority (ESTVA)’s office and stole only a laptop belonging to the Chief Financial Officer, Kenneth Maziya.

Sources told Eswatini News that they broke into Maziya’s office through a window and only took the laptop, charger and external hard drive.

It was gathered that they did not break into the other offices last Monday morning.

According to sources, the laptop had important documents and files that contain the financial reports of ESTVA.

ESTVA’s Maziya confirmed the incident and added that the stain of shoe prints of one of those who broke in were seen next to the window on the outside of the building.

The matter was reported to the Royal Eswatini Police (REPS) and they came to conduct their investigations and also pick up some evidence inside Maziya’s office.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the break-in and said police were currently conducting their own investigations and no one had been arrested by the time of compiling this report .

CFO Maziya had been embattled in a court case where he was going head on with Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Princess Sikhanyiso in an effort to have her withdraw the appointment of acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andreas Dlamini.

Maziya had argued that the minister should have endorsed the recommendation of the ESTVA’s Board which advised her to appoint him. He had been acting as the CEO for over two years, until the Principal Secretary in the ICT Ministry, Phesheya Dube appointed Dlamini, a few weeks ago.

Maziya is no longer pursuing the matter of the appointment of Andreas as Acting CEO of ESTVA.

On Wednesday, Maziya filed a notice of withdrawal the industrial Court. His attorney, Thabiso Mavuso of Motsa Mavuso Attorneys, advised the court that the parties were pursuing other

means of settling the matter.

The court accordingly withdrew Maziya’s application.

ESTVA is a broadcaster established in 1983 through an Act of Parliament. Before it was established by the Act of Parliament, it was known as the Eswatini Television Broadcasting Corporation (STBC). STBC was officially opened by His Majesty King Sobhuza II in February 1978.

This was the coming of television in Swaziland (Eswatini).

The government of the Kingdom of Eswatini took over the then private-owned company belonging to an electronic group of companies based in the United Kingdom. The company had a monopoly in all television gadgets or equipment; as a result, they were also operating a television rental operating under Vision Hire. With the change of the television station from STBC to ESTVA, Vision Hire also changed to the Swaziland Television Authority Rentals (STAR).

ESTVA has been without a substantial CEO since the demise of Bongani S’gcokosiyancinca Dlamini, last year.