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BUCOPHO WANT MEDICAL AID

22/01/2019 01:25:00 BY NTOMBI MHLONGO

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MBABANE – While the law considers them to be politicians just like Members of Parliament, the country’s bucopho and tindvuna tetinkhundla have decried that they were treated like beggars.

The outcry emanates from the fact that they have not been afforded medical aid since they assumed office towards the end of last year. This is one of many other issues which they feel need to be addressed by government through the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development.

As a result, they have written a letter to the ministry where they raised concerns, including that of not having a medical aid cover.
Through a letter which they sent to the ministry last Monday and this newspaper is in the possession of a copy, the politicians stated that Finance Circular No.2 of 2013, the instrument which is currently used for their remuneration, was clear that they were entitled to medical aid cover but that it had not been the case since November last year.

unfair

“We have not received such benefits yet we have heard that MPs have. This we view as unfair treatment since the very same circular states that we are all politicians but now it seems like some animals are treated better than others, yet we are in one farm,” reads part of the letter.

In terms of the law, bucopho are the individual councillors who represent their respective chiefdoms at Tinkhundla level.
Their core responsibilities include being a development and service delivery link between the Inkhundla committee and chiefdom, collaborate and work closely with bandlancane (inner council) in promoting community development projects in the chiefdom and oversee the implementation of all community projects funded through grants or loans from the national government and compile reports.

Elected

Furthermore, bucopho provide general assistance to members of the community to access facilities, funds and information which they may from time to time need from Inkhundla. On the other hand, indvuna yenkhundla is an elected head of the Inkhundla authority and is responsible and accountable to bucopho and the regional administrator for administrative and policy parameters.

responsibilities

Indvuna yenkhundla becomes the chair of the Inkhundla, with core responsibilities such as presiding in all official meetings, supervising the work of bucopho in the respective chiefdoms and ensuring that decisions are implemented.
Furthermore, indvuna yenkhundla regularly updates chiefs in the Inkhundla, of all social and economic development programmes and projects implemented, ensure the preparation and implementation of development plans and attend meetings at chiefdoms as and when necessary.

Circular No.2 of 2013 provides that medical aid would be afforded to all parliamentarians through an approved service provider and this accommodates both bucopho and tindvuna tetinkhundla.

Currently, the medical aid service provider for parliamentarians is the Swaziland Medical Aid Fund, which is widely referred to as SwaziMed. The medical aid, according to the circular, covers all medical costs incurred, with varying contribution rates.

frustrated

In an interview with Bhekisisa Bhembe, who is a community headman under Lobamba Inkhundla, he confirmed that they wrote the said letter to the ministry as they were frustrated by not being afforded medical aid.
Bhembe, who is the chairperson of tindvuna tetinkhundla and bucopho under the Hhohho Region, said the cover was vital since all had medical costs to take care of, including those of their dependants. He said his main concern was that there had been no meeting or engagement where they were informed why there was a delay.
Furthermore, Bhembe said they were worried that a new circular was going to be implemented by government, which raised some uncertainty on the medical cover.
“Government has in the past few months been emphasising on cutting down costs, so our worry is that the new circular might not include the medical aid cover yet we badly need it so that we can be able to go to pharmacies for medication. In order to remove the doubt that we now have, we are requesting government to engage us now before the new circular comes,” he said.
When called for comment, SwaziMed Principal Officer Peter Simelane, confirmed that the cover for the two aggrieved parties was not yet provided for. He also confirmed that the one for MPs was already up and running. “We are waiting for a directive from Parliament authorities. We cannot just make it affordable without getting the directive,” he said.
Besides the medical aid issue, the aggrieved parties also detailed how they were unhappy with the act by government to deduct their salaries without notifying them.
overpaid
Government took a decision to deduct salaries of some politicians after it emerged that they were overpaid their October 2018 salaries, yet they had vacated office around October 10, 2018. “The act of deducting our money was very painful because it was done without explaining to us. The fact that the accounts department deducted so much money is affecting our plans, as you know that we do not earn much. MPs received settling in allowances as well,” the letter reads.
Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala said he had not been made aware of the concerns as he was still new in the ministry.
However, he explained that matters related to medical aid of all politicians were dealt with by Parliament through the implementation of a circular.