43 Assignment of responsibilities 70. The King may, after consultation with the Prime Minister, assign to the Prime Minister or any other Minister responsibility for the conduct of any business of the Government including the administration of any department of Government. Exercise of the Prime Minister’s functions during absence or illness 71. Where the Prime Minister is absent from Swaziland or is by reason of illness or any other cause unable to exercise the functions conferred on the Prime Minister by this Constitution or any other law, those functions shall be exercised by the Deputy Prime Minster or where the Deputy Prime Minister is for any reason unable to exercise the functions of the office of the Prime Minister, by such other Minister as the King may authorize in writing for a maximum period not exceeding three months. Exercise of Minister’s functions during absence or illness 72. Where a Minister is absent from Swaziland or is by reason of illness or any other cause unable to exercise the functions of the office of that Minister the Minister may, after consultation with the Prime Minister, delegate those functions to another Minister in writing for a maximum period not exceeding six months. Oaths of office 73. A Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister or Minister shall, before assuming the duties of office take and subscribe the oath of allegiance and the oath for the due execution of office as set out in the Second Schedule. Secretary to Cabinet 74. (1) There shall be a Secretary to the Cabinet who shall be the head of the public service and whose office shall be a public office. (2) The King, in appointing the Secretary to Cabinet, shall act on the advice of the Prime Minister after recommendation by the Civil Service Commission. (3) The Secretary to Cabinet shall, in addition to any other functions, which may be conferred by the Prime Minister or by any other law ­ (a) be chief adviser to the Prime Minister on management systems, structures and organization of Ministries; (b) review and monitor the overall performance of each Ministry in implementing government policies and programmes, including the discharge by the Principal Secretaries of their functions; (c) have charge of Cabinet office and be responsible in accordance with the instructions given by the Prime Minister, for arranging the business and keeping the minutes of the Cabinet and for conveying decisions made in Cabinet to the appropriate authorities. Direction of government departments 75. (1) Where a Minister has been charged with the responsibility for any department of government, the Minister shall be responsible for the policy and general direction and control over such department. (2) Two or more government departments may be placed under the responsibility of one Minister. 43