POLITICIANS STILL NOT PAID: WE ARE BROKE - SOME MPS

MBABANE – We are broke!

This is the assertion shared by some Members of Parliament (MPs) after they were informed that they would get their first salary at the end of the current month. The legislators were supposed to get their first salary at least on October 20, 2023, as the 11th Parliament was remunerated on the same date, but that was not the case. A few challenges which were relayed by Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba, hindered the remuneration of the legislators, who now have to wait for the next 27 days to get what is due to them.

Xaba shared that the first cause of delay was that Parliament was still working on its system, clearing out the previous parliamentarians who did not make it back to the House of Assembly, to make way for those who were victorious in the recently held general elections.

Challenge

He said the process had been ongoing and was expected to be completed by the end of business today. Another challenge relayed by Xaba was that the MPs contributed to the delay, as some of them did not submit documents that were requested by Parliament to process their payment on time.“We had requested that the MPs forward some documents which would be used in the payment process, but some did not submit same on time, which contributed to the delay,” he said.

He did not specify the required documents. As the country awaits the appointment of 20 senators by His Majesty King Mswati III, Xaba also highlighted that when the composition of Parliament was complete, there should be a legal notice that officially depicts their legislators’ status. One of the MPs, who preferred anonymity, shared that they had been getting feedback from Parliament that their payment was still being processed.

“We have been waiting and hoping that we would get our first payment, but it has all been in vain. Honestly, we are broke, kubi,” he said. Another MP, who also preferred anonymity, shared that coming from the secondary elections, where they had to invest in their campaign strategies while canvassing for votes, they were financially stretched and getting the payment last month would have come in handy.

“Canvassing for votes demanded that one invest a lot in their campaign strategy to maximise the chances of amassing as many votes in the secondary elections. We were hopeful that we would be remunerated last month, but we have to respect the process and be patient. Financially, it is not easy, especially because people have been knocking on our doors with the hope of getting financial aid,” he said.

Another MP shared that he had already drawn up a budget for the money, which he had hoped to receive last month.
“I was drained by my campaign and it’s not easy. Luckily, I have a business to sustain me, but I still have people coming to request financial assistance even now,” he said. Also sharing similar sentiments was another MP from the Manzini Region, who said the electorate was not making it easy for them as they made a lot of requests.

However, Deputy Speaker and Mhlangatane MP Madala Mhlanga, who was part of the 11th Parliament, asserted that he knew that they would be remunerated at the end of November and he had to make a few adjustments to cater for the present time. He said the same thing transpired after the elections in 2018. The politicians, who took the oath on October 5, will have their salary doubled and they will not get anything less than E178 179.55.

Remuneration

Had the politicians been remunerated last month, they would have received not less than E127 074.72. This remuneration is based on the provisions made by Finance Circular No.2 of 2023, which outlines a number of perks they would be afforded for the office they have assumed. According to the Circular, they shall get a once-off settling-in allowance, which is equivalent to their remuneration.

For an ordinary MP, the basic salary is E51 104.83. In addition to this, MPs are entitled to a car allowance of E10 833.33 per month; a constituency allowance of E6 388.10 which is 12.5 per cent of their basic salary; a housing allowance which is 10 per cent of their basic salary, which is E5 110.48; communication allowance of E1 000 and utilities equivalent to three per cent of their salary, which at this instance amount to E1 533.15.

This translates to each MP being paid E127 074.72 before deductions of their statutory tax obligations. The amount also excludes their sitting allowances of E350 per sitting for an ordinary member and E450 for chairpersons.
This means that their first payment would now reach a staggering E178 179.55, as the basic salary would be double, on top of the aforementioned allowances. However, after this month, the backbenchers’ salaries will be reduced by E51 104.83 as the settling-in allowance is a once-off payment, set to assist them relocate.

It also excludes the loans they shall be accessible to, which is set to improve their status as politicians, that includes E200 000 to cover security facilities in their residential homes. Renowned Economist and University of Eswatini Lecturer Sanele Sibiya, said the legislators should have been aware of this, especially because the full composition of Parliament had not been finalised as the King was yet to appoint 20 senators as per the country’s supreme law.
However, Sibiya highlighted that for an employed person not to get a salary was very demotivating.

Employment

He said the one thing that made employment worthwhile, was that there was a reward at the end of the day, because one could wake up and go to work just to kill time, but they knew that they were doing it because there was a particular reward.

“Already, the MPs have invested in their elections campaign. I can imagine the mental stress they are going through currently, because the unfortunate part is that the bills have to be paid as they do not go by the parliamentary process. The economic-related mental health disorders are more severe and they tend to affect the productivity of the individuals,” the economist said.

Sibiya said as a basic principle, this was not something that should happen to a person who was employed and it was even worse for those who sought loans from loan sharks, because they would have to endure endless calls from the lenders who would be expecting payment. “It also creates a very bad reputation even if the loan was acquired from a bank, if one would not be able to service it,” he said.

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