27 GOVT OFFICES LEFT IN THE DARK

MBABANE – While ministers were in cabinet for their Tuesday meetings with the Prime Minister, for some, their offices were in darkness.

This comes after the Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC), as per its advertisement, switched off power supply to some owing government ministries, departments and parastatals. From yesterday, the company had been targeting government ministries and parastatals which owe the utility power provider over E17.2 million.

Five ministries, namely; Natural Resources and Energy, Public Works and Transport, Health, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Home Affairs as well as the Treasury Department had their power supply disconnected yesterday.
These five ministries and the Treasury Department form part of a list of 27 others that owe the utility company.
Sources said there had been very little commitment from government to settle the owed fees.

“What is more appalling is that the parent ministry, that of Natural Resources and Energy, also forms part of the list.
“I believe they should be the first to ensure that their power bill is paid up at all times. It must be embarrassing for SEC staff to disconnect power for its parent ministry,” said the source. The ministry owes about E220 000.

Its power was disconnected for about four hours, from 9am to around 1pm after negotiations between SEC management and senior officers of the ministry. Also, power was later restored at the Treasury Department following that payments, including salaries, were still being processed and this was viewed to be a serious convenience should there be any payments to be made to SEC.

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