NEW WHEELS FOR MINISTERS

MANZINI – Ministers will soon be chauffeured in new vehicles.

The decision to procure vehicles for the ministers comes almost two years into their term in office. According to impeccable sources, the Royal Commission of Enquiries into the Terms and Conditions of Service for the Members of Parliament and Statutory Boards and Commissions has started looking into the issue pertaining to the mode of transport to be used by ministers. The commission, which was set up to review the remuneration of politicians and other stakeholders, comprises seven members and chairing the committee is Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) CEO Phil Mnisi, while Senior Attorney Sidumo Mdlala is the Secretary.

Members

The rest of the members are REDI Director Dr Sikhomba Gumbi, former Principal Secretary Nomathemba Hlope, Mvuselelo Fakudze, Chartered Accountant Kobla Quashie and Joe Shilubane. Impeccable sources informed this publication that the commission had received a directive seeking that they look into this issue using the recommendations contained in Finance Circular No.2 of 2013. Cabinet ministers in the 2013-2018 term of office had their official vehicles benchmarked at E800 000 each yet with the current administration, the commission had recommended the value of their vehicles to be at a maximum cost of E950 000, which was E150 000 extra.

According to Finance Circular No.2 of 2013, the presiding officers and ministers would be allocated sports utility vehicles (SUVs) upon taking office. “The Eswatini Government will carry the once-off cost of acquiring the motor vehicles directly from the vehicle manufactures and/ or their dealerships. The value of the benchmark SUV will not exceed E800 000; and the total purchase price per motor vehicle must include value added tax (VAT), accessories and a comprehensive motor plan,” reads the circular in part.

Benchmark

It further said in the event that the respective parliamentarian chose a lesser value motor vehicle than that of the benchmark vehicle; he or she would not be entitled to the monetary difference nor would the parliamentarian be allowed to pay part of the excess value should the motor vehicle exceed the benchmark vehicle cost.

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