WHY FUNERAL COVER WHEN ELDERLY HUNGRY? - MPS

LOBAMBA - What is the use of implementing a funeral cover for the elderly when they have nothing to eat while they are still alive?

This is one question which was posed by most Members of Parliament (MPs) during the budget speech debate at the House of Assembly yesterday. It has been revealed that government has budgeted E20 towards funeral cover for each elderly person in the country, starting from the next financial year. Eswatini has around 75 489 registered elderly in the system. This means, in total government will part with E1 509 780 towards the funeral cover per month.

Funeral

Government has considered the inclusion of the funeral cover for the elderly after His Majesty King Mswati III mentioned during the official Opening of the Fourth Session of the 11th Parliament that the elderly people should be well catered for. According to the MPs, the elderly grants should be increased first so that the elderly could live longer and manage to afford items such a medication so that they did not die early. “It is good to have a funeral plan but as they live, what will they be eating?” asked Somntongo MP. In jest, Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze asked why government did not just give the elderly flowers and gifts while they were still alive. He said increasing the elderly grants would increase the lifespan of the elderly as they would live longer and healthy.

Lamented

Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo also debated the issue, saying he received many calls from people who lamented that they would have wished to thank government for the funeral plan but would not as the same government did not provide them with something that would prolong life. “The people are saying government is not providing medication in health facilities and are wondering why it can’t use the money for the funeral cover,” said Khumalo. In vernacular he said; “Batsi hulumende ufunelani kufaka lemali ethuneni?” Meanwhile, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni likened the funeral plan to a son who did not support his mother for years and when she passed on, he purchased an expensive casket just to impress friends.
Myeni said the elderly should be provided with decent grants while they were still alive.

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