MPS RELENTLESS ON SIKHUPHE VIABILITY

LOBAMBA – With hardly a week before the official opening of the newly constructed multi-million Sikhuphe International Airport, Members of Parliament once again questioned the profit viability of the project.

This was during a debate of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development annual performance report by the portfolio committee in Parliament yesterday.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) further questioned the location of the proposed five-star hotel at Ezulwini.

Wondered

Zombodze Emuva MP Titus Thwala wondered if the airport, which is expected to be officially opened by His Majesty King Mswati III on Friday, would realise the profits which it was projected to make about 10 years ago when its feasibility study was undertaken.
He noted that the nation was grateful that the airport had finally been completed after prolonged delays.

“When you look back to the time when the feasibility study was undertaken, it has been over 10 years. At the time the study was undertaken, it was indicated that chances of making profits at Sikhuphe were very high.
“But in life we have what is called a ‘history effect’.

There is a lot that has happened from the feasibility study till today. One of such has been the economic meltdown.
“Here is my question: ‘All this time up to now, do we see any spark of profits from Sikhuphe or are we simply forging ahead with the project because we have invested so much in it such that dropping it would be worse than continuing with it?’” he asked before quickly sitting down.

Questioned

Other MPs questioned the logic behind having a five-star hotel at Ezulwini, several kilometres away from the new airport.
Hosea MP Thulani Masuku said in his opinion, it would make a lot of business sense to have the hotel constructed near Sikhuphe. 
“I see Madam Minister you are here escorted by a large delegation of planners from the ministry. These are the country’s planners which we must blame when we go wrong. We have been told by the Minister for Finance that a hotel will be built at Ezulwini.

“My question is how have you planned for the construction of a hotel at Ezulwini? The hotel must be at Sikhuphe because it is not everyone who will disembark from a plane at Sikhuphe and take a cab to Ezulwini,” he said. 
The MP made an example of the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa where he said passengers who have missed their scheduled flights are always able to book into nearby hotels.

Missing

“What is going to happen to people who might experience the unfortunate event of missing their flights at Sikhuphe? Where are they going to sleep? Will they be expected to travel all the way to Ezulwini and travel back to Sikhuphe in the morning for their flights? What kind of planning is that?” he wondered.

Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini also shared the same sentiments.
“I think it would be a good idea for your ministry to go back to the drawing board and undertake another study to determine if it wouldn’t be a good idea to bring the hotel to Sikhuphe.

“I think the hotel would make a lot of profits if situated next to the airport because many tourists would utilise it. For now, there is no hotel that is anywhere near Sikhuphe,” he said.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: