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A BIG NO TO NEW TRAFFIC FINES!

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Sir,

Allow me to air my views on the proposed new traffic fines which show an increase of about 800 per cent. Firstly, one wonders why there is this proposal in the first place. It is because our extravagant government is desperately in need of money? It is because in the neighbouring country, South Africa, traffic fines are higher than those from our country? What exactly necessitated the proposed increase?
Secondly, why are traffic fines in Swaziland lower? Why have they not been increased for so many years? The answer for that is simple: Swazis cannot afford high fines because of the lower living standards which they are perpetually subjected to. The average Swazi earns a very little salary to afford a traffic fine of E200. The reason why traffic fines have not been increased for all these years also has to do with the increase in salaries. Be it civil servants, bank employees or factor workers. You cannot increase traffic fines by 800 percent when you cannot increase salaries by the same percentage, let alone 50 per cent.

Comparison
Many Swazis compare our traffic fines with those of South Africa and find out that they are higher. The question is why look at traffic fines only when making a comparison? Why not compare the salaries as well. I ask this because there are higher traffic fines in South Africa because the people there earn better salaries, have many affordable insurance companies to choose from and there are a variety of spares. These are two different countries so if Swaziland intends to increase traffic fines it must do the same with salaries so that they can match the standard in South Africa. Comparing Swaziland’s traffic fines with those of South Africa is like finding which one has more loaves of bread between Mtfwebeba Grocery in Lavumisa and Prime Bakeries!

Necessitated
In South Africa the fines are high because of various reasons including the fact that there is a high number of motorists which results in a number of accidents. South Africa has a higher population, about 51 million, than Swaziland. Also, before the high fines were gazette, there was a lengthy period of consultations and debate. They did not just impose them overnight. The question is; is it reasonable to make a motorist in Swaziland to pay a traffic fine of up to E2 000 when he has been failing to afford one that cost E60?

Traffic cops
Then comes the issue of some not all) traffic cops who enrich themselves with traffic fines. Are we putting them to more temptation if we increase traffic fines by 800 per cent? One wonders how much a corrupt traffic cop would make at the end of the day if the proposed fines are eventually approved. How safe are motorists from traffic officers who would grab the opportunity and demand more money in the name of enforcing the new traffic regulations?
Traffic fines must be commensurate with the living standards of the people. Swazis will not afford high fines, hence the proposal must be thrown out and maintain the current ones.

HM Magwegwe

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