Eswatini Communications Commission Unveils ‘Khuluma’ Whistleblower Channel to Tackle Internal Wrongdoing

The Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) has officially introduced an independent, confidential whistleblowing system called Khuluma, establishing a direct pipeline for employees, industry licensees, contractors, and the public to report internal misconduct, fraud, and maladministration.

Rolled out under the banner "Khuluma for Integrity," the initiative establishes an externally managed mechanism to identify governance failures and operational malpractice within the communications regulator.

Independent Oversight and Channels

To preserve reporting integrity and ensure strict confidentiality, ESCCOM contracted international professional services firm SNG Grant Thornton to manage the reporting intake. Whistleblowers can lodge concerns through:

• Toll-Free Hotline: 800 100 9

• Encrypted Email Channel: esccom@thecorruptiononline.com (for non-anonymous or documented reports)

ESCCOM emphasized that individuals filing reports do not bear the burden of proving allegations before submitting them. Stakeholders need only reasonable grounds for suspicion, accompanied by basic context, timelines, and relevant details.

Scope of Misconduct Covered

The Khuluma framework explicitly targets internal irregularities, including:

• Theft, embezzlement, or unauthorized personal use of commission assets

• Accounting irregularities, record falsification, or misleading documentation

• Abuse of regulatory office, procurement manipulation, and conflict of interest

• Administrative mismanagement, gross negligence, and workplace malpractice

Legal Protections and Institutional Context

A central pillar of the initiative is a formal non-retaliation pledge. Backed by the commission's Code of Ethics Policy and existing national legal frameworks, ESCCOM affirmed that no employee or external informant acting in good faith will face disciplinary penalties, harassment, or administrative reprisal.

"Reporting wrongdoing is not betrayal; it is an act of loyalty to the organisation, the sector, and Eswatini as a whole," stated ESCCOM Acting Chief Executive Ozzie Thakatha during the rollout.

The launch arrives during heightened public and parliamentary scrutiny over institutional accountability in the Kingdom. By outsourcing whistleblower intake to an arm's-length auditor, ESCCOM intends to rebuild institutional confidence, minimize friction for informants, and set an operational precedent for statutory bodies across the Southern African region.