MPS AGAINST TABLED STIFF TRAFFIC FINES

MBABANE – Even though the regulations are still to be debated by MPs, the public may rest assured that their representatives have their best interest at heart.

The recently tabled road traffic regulations are not only a concern for motorists and pedestrians, but Members of Parliament (MPs) are also not for the idea of such an increase on the traffic fines. Some of the MPs, when contacted on their views, prior to their debate on the matter, revealed that what the Ministry of Public Works and Transport had proposed was way above anything acceptable in society.

A portfolio committee has been enacted to deliberate on the regulations and thereafter, the regulations will be tabled in Parliament for MPs to deliberate on. Their final resolution on this will be put down as the new road traffic regulations; hence the fate of the public is in their representatives’ hands.

Most of the legislators said people from their constituencies have already started forwarding their concerns regarding the matter, with the hope that they (MPs) will lobby on their behalf that the fines be reduced from the proposed ones. Ludzeludze Member of Parliament Bambuti Sithole, who is also in the portfolio committee, said high fines were not always a deterrent in committing offences but only a caution to those on the wrong side of the law not to repeat their transgressions. It is for that reason that Sithole felt the ministry should review the proposed fines. He said for whatever reason, members of the public should not be made to feel like they were being oppressed with the laws and regulations imposed on them.

“Sive asingabulawa! The ministry should reduce the proposed fines, and if situations press that there be an increase on public funds, this should be staggered over three years. The country’s cash flow problems and the fact that increasing fines has been long overdue is not the people’s fault,” said Sithole. Even though it has been said that the projected increase in public fines is not mainly to increase revenues, but mostly to encourage road users to adhere to and observe all the road regulations, some legislators are of the view that this justification does not make any difference on the Swazis who will be made to pay the fines.

Ndzingeni MP Jeremiah Ndwandwe said no matter the explanation for such ‘high’ fines, what was expected from people at the end of the day was money. Ndwandwe said with all the complaints brought to him by people under his constituency; he will fight tooth and nail for a review of the regulations on their behalf.

“Whether this has been done to prevent the public from committing traffic offences or to increase revenues for the country, at the end of the day it is money that will be taken from the people. In this case it is not just mere money but a lot of money,” he said.

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