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E24 MILLION FOR PM, MINISTERS’ CARS

17/08/2019 23:58:00 BY WELCOME DLAMINI

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MBABANE – It cost government less to buy official vehicles for Cabinet ministers in the previous administration compared to what will be spent on the current team.

Cabinet ministers in the 2013-2018 term of office had their official vehicles benchmarked at E800 000 each yet with the current administration, the value of their vehicles has been put at a maximum cost of E950 000.
Government, therefore, is expected to fork out an amount of E17.1 million to purchase vehicles for the 18 Cabinet ministers, while E14.4 million was spent on the preceding team.

The current crop of ministers will be chauffeured in the latest Toyota Land Cruiser Prado LC Prado 3.0D VX (25X), whereas their predecessors enjoyed the luxury of the BMW X5.

The cost of the Cabinet ministers’ vehicles will be upped from the E17.1 million because Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini is also in line for two new wheels valued at E1.8 million each.
The Phil Mnisi-led royal commission that reviewed the politicians’ remuneration has recommended that the PM should be bought a Mercedes S350 and a Range Rover.

This means the PM’s cars will cost the taxpayer a further E3.6 million.
Presently, the PM is using Mercedes S350 that was used by his predecessor, the late Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, who also had a Range Rover at his disposal.
The incumbent has hardly been seen being chauffeured in the Range Rover.

But Government Press Secretary Percy Simelane told the Times SUNDAY that the PM uses both vehicles, ‘depending on the terrain’.
Further expected to hike the taxpayers’ spend on the vehicles is the commission’s recommendation that two cars – a Mercedes CLS 2.5 and a Mercedes GLE 2.5 – valued at E1.5 million each be purchased for Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku.

The DPM’s vehicles will therefore cost E3 million. The 22 vehicles for the PM, DPM and Cabinet ministers are expected to set the taxpayer back by E23.7 million.

PM, DPM spouses winners
Spouses of the PM and DPM are also expected to be bought vehicles, which are a Toyota Fortuna or C-class Mercedes Benz for the premier’s wife and a Fortuna for the DPM’s.

“Government shall also provide a pool vehicle for the spouse of the prime minister and deputy prime minister. The motor vehicle will not be of the same status as the prime minister and deputy prime minister’s official vehicles.

“It will also serve as a utility vehicle to support the operations and service of the appointee; which include daily errands supporting the work of the prime minister or deputy prime minister. A driver for this vehicle will be provided from the Royal Eswatini Police Service,” reads clause 4.4.8(b) of the remuneration framework.

While no value has been placed on the benchmarked vehicles for the spouses, a Toyota Fortuna, as seen on www.carshop.co.za, costs between E530 000 and E650 000 for the 2019 model while the 2018 design is worth between E470 000 and E540 000.
The spouse of the former prime minister also had a car bought for her by government.

The will be bought for the Cabinet ministers as per the provision of clause 4.4.5 of the royal commission report, which reads: “The prime minister, deputy prime minister, presiding officers, ministers, attorney general and regional administrators will be allocated official government vehicles by the state.”

Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, Speaker Petros Mavimbela, Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini and the four Regional Administrators; namely, Princess Tsandzile, Prince Gija, Themba Msibi and Vincent Mhlanga will all get the same vehicles – the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado LC 3.0D VX (25X) - as will the Cabinet ministers.

Over E30m for 27 officers
This means that on these 27 parliamentarians, government will have to fork out E30 350 000 in purchasing their vehicles.
“Government will cover the once-off costs of acquiring, maintenance, insuring and fuelling (through Central Transport Organisation centres in the Kingdom of Eswatini) of all vehicles assigned to the specified political office bearers,” reads the framework.

Because these 27 parliamentarians will have their vehicles bought for them by the government, they will not be allowed to draw a reimbursive allowance.
This allowance will be given to the other parliamentarians (MPs, Senators, full-time members of Emabandla and Tindvuna Tetinkhundla) to reimburse them for the capital outlay in respect of the acquisition of a private motor vehicle (including running, maintenance and insurance costs).

However, they will be required to produce proof of ownership before claiming this allowance. As per the norm, the prime minister and deputy prime minister will are allocated a driver and escorts from the royal eswatini police service at the expense of government. The driver and police members are allocated to the prime minister and deputy prime minister for security reasons.

The Speaker, Senate president, ministers, AG and RA hire their own chauffeurs at government’s expense.
As stated in the framework, the use of the vehicles bought for the parliamentarians by government shall be governed by Stores Regulations and a Fleet Management System shall put in place in consultation with the Central Transport Organisation (CTO).
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport; through the (CTO) General Transport Manager has the responsibility of monitoring the use of this fleet of vehicles; and should prepare monthly reports to the Public Policy Co-ordination Unit (PPCU), on the use (including mileage, fuelling and maintenance) of these vehicles.
“The PPCU will submit quarterly reports to Cabinet for review and development of supplementary guidelines on the use, fuelling, insurance (etc) of these government owned vehicles if need be,” states the framework.

E112 million cars for the rest
Meanwhile, government is expected to spend at least about E112 million in reimbursing the rest of the parliamentarians and full-time emabandla for the new cars they will purchase through a guaranteed vehicle loan scheme which government has with financial institutions.

These politicians will be allowed to purchase vehicles that are valued at a maximum of E650 000. Government will then give an annual motor vehicle allowance of E105 000 to each of these parliamentarians for five years, which will add up to E525 000 for each of the 214 politicians, bringing the total cost to government to E112 350 000.
“The loan may not exceed the actual cost of the vehicle to be purchased. This provision also applies to parliamentarians appointed to cabinet, or as presiding officers or regional administrators. However, they will not be entitled to a motor vehicle allowance to meet the running costs of their private vehicle,” reads the framework.

These vehicles may not be bought on a government contract or tender and must be negotiated directly with a dealership.
Government may negotiate discounted rates with vehicle manufacturers or dealerships on behalf of the parliamentarians and full-time emabandla; however, it is the prerogative of the politicians to arrange and negotiate the financing of the motor vehicles.

“If parliamentarians or full-time emabandla are offered discounts of more than 10 per cent by motor dealers or more than 15 per cent by vehicle manufacturers, the parliamentarians or full-time emabandla shall declare the said discount in terms of the principles of the Leadership Code set out in the constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini,” states the remuneration framework.