WHY E7.5M FOR MTSAMBAMA INKHUNDLA?

MBABANE – Why Mtsambama Inkhundla?  This is the million dollar question on the minds of some members of Parliament (MPs) after it was revealed that Mtsambama Inkhundla centre was the only constituency allocated about E7.5 million for its reconstruction.

The allocation is reflected in the 2020/2021 Budget Estimates, which were tabled by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg in the House of Assembly last Friday.

Of concern to some of the legislators is that there are four new constituencies which were announced before the 2018 National Elections and a majority of them are currently housed in temporary structures.

Mtsambama Inkhundla centre is one of the originally existing 55 Tinkhundla centres prior to the addition of four more.
The scrutiny of the Mtsambama Inkhundla centre was highlighted during the budget debate workshop meeting, which was held for MPs at the Sibane Hotel on Monday.

Scrutinise

Deputy Speaker Phila Buthelezi said when the legislators scrutinised the budget estimates they should also ask themselves why Mtsambama was the only constituency which was allocated a capital project under the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, when there were many other centres which were in a dilapidated state.

“It was highlighted that the E7.5 million was for the reconstruction of Mtsambama and we have to ask why this is the case and what had happened to the original structure,” said MP Buthelezi.
The current Mtsambama MP is Simosakhe Shongwe.
The new constituencies include Gilgal, Nkomiyahlaba, Kumethula and Phondo Inkhundla.

Another inkhundla which was affected by the changes was Motshane, which is now divided into two with the other being Siphocosini.
Motshane MP Robert Magongo also wondered why the centre under his constituency was not being built.

Currently, the Motshane Inkhundla operates from the handicraft centre which is situated in the same area.
Meanwhile, the previous centre that was utilised as Motshane Inkhundla is now being used by Siphocosini Inkhundla since it is situated under Sigangeni chiefdom.
Gilgal MP Sandla Fakudze informed this publication that they currently used a two-bedroom house which had been abandoned by an agriculture extension officer as their constituency structure.

Renovated

“Although the house was renovated by the ministry, it is still very small and as we speak we are holding a meeting and we are squashed like sardines,” he said.
He said although he had no problem with government allocating the said amount for the construction of the Mtsambama constituency centre one would have thought that the new constituencies would also be considered.

On the other hand, Phondo MP Xolani Vilakati said he was pretty happy with the structure that was allocated to them as their inkhundla centre.
MP Vilakati said government had renovated a structure which was previously occupied by a certain cooperative.
“The standard of the building is very similar to that of other tinkhundla, as it was given a revamp by the Micro Project Unit,” Vilakati said.

He said they were content with the structure. Another new constituency was reported to be Nkomiyahlaba which is under the Manzini Region.
The MP, Welcome Shongwe, said they currently operated from the premises of Sigombeni Clinic.

He said they, however, did not have any complaints about their current location as initially, the structure was meant to be a maternity ward, but was converted to suit the needs of the inkhundla centre.

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