MARCH TO DEMAND E1 200 ELDERLY GRANTS
MANZINI – Concerned Swazis are expected to march to the Prime Minister’s Office today to deliver a petition demanding an increase of elderly grants to E1 200 per month and the prosecution of at least 100 corrupt people per year.
This resolution was among others which were taken by the concerned members of the public during the people’s summit which was held at Bosco Skills Centre yesterday. The summit was organised by the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and it was part of the activities under the 5th Global Week of Action. About 3 500 people attended.
The people, who included members of the civil society, political parties, unemployed people and students, among others, said the E240 which was being given to the elderly per month was very little. Recently, government said it would pay up to E1 200 as grants to about 1 295 poor families and orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) in the country. The attendees said the grant should also be given to people with disabilities because they were equally vulnerable like the elderly.
The summit also agreed that a lot of money was being lost through corruption. They said that money could be used in investments, which could create more jobs for unemployed Swazis.
They said they demanded that at least 100 corrupt people, both from government and the private sector, should be arrested and prosecuted. This means that at least 500 people should be prosecuted by 2021 for corruption in the country.
“We believe that their arrest and prosecution could serve as a deterrent to other people who might fall into temptation to defraud the country, especially government in the future.
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