KISS JV: MARWICK DEMANDS ANSWERS, BUT ...

LOBAMBA – The debate of the contract termination of the KISS Joint Venture by government was cut short yesterday, after the Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo, said the matter was now in court. 

KISS is the Kukhanya Inyatsi Stefanutii Stocks Joint Venture (JV), which was the contractor responsible for the construction of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Ezulwini. 

However, last Friday, government, through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development’s Principal Secretary, Bheki Bhembe, terminated the contract allegedly because the contractor had not met some of the contract, obligations which was failure to renew performance security within 28 days after its expiry. 

At the start of the sitting, Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, stood on Standing Order No.58 (2), which dealt with the House privileges. 

He said he was directing his concerns to the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenburg on the issue of loans which they passed in the House. 

Khumalo said not long ago, they had agreed to pass a loan of US$ 83 million loan for the project. 

He said the same minister brought to the House terms and conditions of these loans and how they were supposed to be repaid. 

MP Khumalo said, however, out of the blue, government cancelled contracts with the private sector. 

“What happened to the money that had already been borrowed and how much has been used?” he asked. 

He said government made these decisions without involving Parliament and these matters touched on the jobs of people. 

MP Khumalo said it was not easy to support government as it was very easy for them to terminate such contracts. 

wondered

He wondered what would now happen to the three companies which were involved in this joint venture. 

“Is this in the interest of the country, what is going to be the state of that building now, especially that it was about to be completed?” asked MP Khumalo. 

MP Khumalo wondered why MPs should continue passing these loan Bills if government then made its own decisions without considering the bigger picture. 

Meanwhile, Kubuta MP Musa Mabuza said the matter should not be debated yesterday as it not only affected the Finance ministry, but that of Economic Planning and Development. 

There was, however, an interruption in the House as the recording system temporarily failed. After the break, the AG said although he was not in the House when MP Khumalo made his submission, he had been reliably informed that the matter was that of the KISS JV. 

He, however, said the matter was now before the courts as there was pending litigation. 

Speaker Petros Mavimbela said as the AG had clarified about the position of the matter, it would not be wise for the House to debate it until the other arm of government had resolved it. 

Gege MP Musa Kunene said MP Khumalo had not spoken of the KISS JV, but loan Bills and therefore the matter should be debated. 

Hosea MP Bacede Mabuza was against the debating of the motion, stating that the wrong Standing Order had been cited. 

However, the Speaker said the AG had already advised them and, therefore, they must put the matter to rest. MP Khumalo said he was satisfied with the AG’s response and therefore, would not pursue the matter any further.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: