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EX-PARLIAMENTARIANS TO BE PAID BASED ON CIRCULAR NO.1 OF 2010

13/12/2013 04:59:00 BY STANLEY KHUMALO

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MBABANE – Parliamentarians from the ninth Parliament will be remunerated based on Finance Circular No. 1 of 2010, it has been established.

Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Sizakele Dlamini said Finance Circular No. 2 of 2013 was solely crafted to remunerate the new parliamentarians while those from the ninth Parliament would be paid according to Finance Circular No 1 of 2010.

Dlamini said “The new circular is for the new Parliamentarian and the other one is for the previous Parliamentarian.
Their (ex-parliamentarians) terminal benefits are still being reviewed; otherwise, they will be paid with circular no. 1.”

She further said her ministry was hard at work figuring out how to remunerate the parliamentarians of the ninth Parliament based on circular no.1 of 2010
However, while doing the review of the former politician’s remuneration, the ministry will use provisions of the PricewaterCoopers report. This report is the basis of the newly established Circular No 2 which caters for the new parliamentarians.

It remains unclear what exactly the ministry will consider when doing the reviews based on the Finance Circular No. 1 of 2010 as well as incorporating provisions of the report from PWC.

Earlier in the year, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance Khabonina Mabuza said the report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) would not affect the exit package of former MPs and former Cabinet ministers.
However, there has been, on the part of former parliamentarians, some of whom have not been paid their ex-gratia concerns regarding their payment as it was somehow unclear how exactly they would be paid.

They insist that they want their payment based on Finance Circular No. 1 of 2010.
The review of Finance Circular No.1 which was for the terms and conditions of service for politicians was initiated after His Majesty King Mswati III said at Sibaya that he would appoint a team of consultants to review the circular after members of the public had complained about it.

The parliamentarians were supposed to have been paid their ex gratia at the end of their parliamentary term.

‘WE WANT OUR MONEY’- EX-MPS

MBABANE – Former Lobamba Member of Parliament (MP) Majahodvwa Khumalo said he was part of the former- MPs planning to seek redress from the Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini.

“We want our packages but as of yet, we haven’t heard anything from the relevant authorities on when we will be paid. By this time, we should have been paid what is due to us,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo said their hopes now rest on the premier’s shoulders.
Nonhlanhla Dlamini, former Ludzeludze Member of Parliament (MP) said, “We should have received what is due to us by now. The money is ours so it must be paid to us. We are waiting for the Premier to get back in the country then we will seek an audience with him regarding the matter.”

Trusty Gina, former Nkilongo MP said, “I will hear from government when the money has been deposited to our accounts. It is painful though that we haven’t been paid yet we should have got it by the end of October. Imali yemuntfu ayihlali kulomunye not unless it is in the bank.”

Sicelo Dlamini, former Maphalaleni MP said, “We all need money but we must not resort to using force, I suggest we use proper ways to get the money or wait until we hear from government.”
Sibusiso ‘Mabhanisi’ Dlamini, the former MP of Kwaluseni stated, “We all need money, but in this case, I ask not to comment.”
Government Press Secretary Percy Simelane said the payments were delayed by matters relating to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
Simelane said when the former legislators left office, the report was still on course.
It is now out but yet to be implemented.
“The time the report was issued, there was a transition and as a result, all processes that were related to payments had to be processed according to the new Circular No. 2 of 2013. It is the transition that caused the delay,” said Simelane.