LOBAMBA – Urgent action, including arresting corrupt suppliers and punishing those obstructing justice, is needed if the country is to win the fight against corruption and misuse of public funds.
Also, a decision must be taken by Parliament to stop the salary of whoever is shielding arrest warrants from being effected.
These are some of the submissions that were made yesterday during the debate and adoption of the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendations on the Auditor General’s Financial Audit Report on Government Accounts for the Financial Year ended on March 31, 2024.
What sparked the debate was the revelation by the PAC Chairperson, Madala Mhlanga, on irregularities in government spending, including how about E2 billion has been lost or misused. During the debate, almost all the Members of Parliament (MPs), who made submissions, decried that the country has failed for years to win the battle against corruption.
They said what is unfortunate is that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has not been able to do much as it is unable to effect arrests even after it has conducted the required investigations.
Also, the MPs submitted that prominent individuals in the private sector, who supply government, have contributed immensely to the corruption in the country, but are never held accountable.
Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba said at some point the nation was informed that members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) work with the ACC, but that there have never been proper reports detailing how far they have gone.
Lushaba said he had come to recommend that when the next PAC report is tabled next year, it must contain a report of the ACC sharing its progress on its investigations.
He said the PAC has admitted that in some instances, the ACC admitted having stopped its investigations due to certain directives.
“Public monies are being misused daily. We know that there are independent arms, that being Legislature and Judiciary, but the nation has a right to know what is happening,” he said.
He then suggested that some years ago, Parliament stood its ground and halted the salary payment of a former Cabinet minister.
Lushaba said Parliament can do the same even now, stand up and say ‘enough is enough’ and suspend the salary of whoever is derailing progress when it comes to arresting people involved in corruption.
He said Parliament cannot say that it is happy with the Judiciary when arrests warrants are not effected.
The legislator clarified that he was not necessarily directing his suggestion to the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, alone, but anyone under the Judiciary who is sleeping on his or her job.
Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi Hlophe also questioned the lack of accountability for those implicated in corruption.
“We recently held a meeting in our constituency and a question was asked: What stops those who are taking the country backwards through corruption from being arrested or made to account?” he said.
“We have three arms of government. Does one of them not have the power to ensure arrests are made? Even His Majesty King Mswati III has said those who are corrupt must be held accountable.”
Matsanjeni South MP Sabelo Ndlangamandla supported the PAC report, but described the recovery of E190 million as insignificant compared to the scale of losses.
“I see this as a drop in the ocean when you look at how much has been lost. You have invoices that have been paid six times for one tender. Over E2 billion has been lost,” he said.
Ndlangamandla painted a grim picture of inefficiencies in the health sector, highlighting the absence of a drug testing laboratory.
“At the Ministry of Health, we still do not have a testing laboratory to verify the quality of supplied drugs. The law is clear: If a supplier delivers drugs that are close to expiry, that supplier must refund government. However, what we see is that government pays these people in full and later disposes of the expired drugs,” he said. He also cited stalled and incomplete infrastructure projects yet suppliers were paid in full.
“There are theatres that have been constructed using public funds, but they are not functional. This is not good for the country’s health sector,” he said. Turning to water projects, Ndlangamandla raised concern over undelivered boreholes.
“At the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, E9 million was paid by citizens for boreholes that were never installed. Those people must either be refunded or the boreholes be delivered. By 2030, we must have clean water, how will we achieve that if people have waited for years?” he asked. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla acknowledged shortcomings within her office, but defended the process followed during PAC sittings. The DPM’s Office was slammed for irregularities and corruption in the disbursement of elderly grants.
“During PAC sittings, controlling officers are called to account and explain irregularities, but when the report is debated here, it is the Cabinet that is criticised,” she said.
She assured Parliament that her office had already begun addressing issues raised in the report.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
Members of Parliament during yesterday’s sitting at the House of Assembly. (Pics: Ntombi Mhlongo)