Parliament

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament have called for the immediate removal of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) checkpoints, arguing they are draining government funds while a mass vaccination campaign is already underway.

The legislators said maintaining checkpoints across the country had become costly and unnecessary.

They raised the issue during debate on the Ministry of Agriculture’s Annual Performance Report before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee.

Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba questioned why government continued to spend money on checkpoints while vaccination programmes were already being conducted in Eswatini and neighbouring South Africa.

“FMD is interrupting national events that require cattle for meat because of transport restrictions. The country is full of checkpoints, yet mass vaccination is taking place here and in South Africa. Why spend money on both instead of removing the checkpoints?” he asked.

Ndzingeni MP Gcina Magagula echoed the concerns and criticised what he described as the slow handling of the outbreak.

He pointed out that a checkpoint had recently been erected near Ndzingeni even though the disease had been diagnosed months ago.

“The diagnosis was made in November last year. Why has the ministry taken so long to address the matter?” he asked.

Magagula also questioned why a checkpoint remained in Lavumisa, where the disease was first detected, despite government allocating E57 million for the vaccination campaign.

“This is becoming too expensive for the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shiselweni II MP Bheki Bhembe raised concerns about funding for cordon fences.

He said while the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg had announced an allocation of E15 million in the Budget Speech, the Book of Estimates reflected only E13.1 million.

“This shows that the ministry is being completely disempowered,” Bhembe said.

The Ministry of Agriculture is expected to respond to the MPs’ concerns in writing.

… MPs: FMD fight will fail if cordon guards are neglected

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament say the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease will remain ineffective if the welfare of cordon guards continues to be ignored.

Legislators said government was investing in cordon fences but failing to properly equip the people responsible for guarding them.

During debate in Parliament, one MP warned that the fences would not serve their purpose if the guards protecting them were poorly supported.

Ndzingeni MP Gcina Magagula said it was worrying that some guards were still working without proper uniforms.

“Some cordon guards are walking barefoot and have complained about not having uniforms to carry out their duties,” he said.

Magagula also raised concerns about cattle kept at Nyonyane Farm, an initiative meant to help local farmers generate income.

He said farmers had reported that their cattle were allegedly being mislabelled, making it appear as if they no longer had identifiable owners.

“The Nyonyane Farm initiative was meant to improve the lives of emaSwati, but farmers are now worried about the status of their livestock,” he said.

Lamgabhi MP Sicelo Jele also expressed concern over the Hamba Ubuye programme, saying its budget had dropped significantly.

He said funding had been reduced from E42 million to E15 million, a move he warned would weaken the programme’s impact in communities.

… Land Development Department operating with only E1.9m a year

LOBAMBA – The Land Development Department is now operating with just E1.9 million a year, down from more than E30 million previously, Agriculture Minister Mandla Tshawuka has revealed.

The disclosure came during debate on the Ministry of Agriculture’s Annual Performance Report in Parliament.

Members of Parliament questioned whether the department was still functioning effectively, pointing to idle farming equipment in several constituencies.

Ndzingeni MP Gcina Magagula said tractors and other land preparation machinery were lying unused.

“There are tractors and other land preparation equipment lying idle in various constituencies.
This raises questions about whether the department is still functioning effectively,” he said.

Responding to the concerns, Minister Tshawuka acknowledged the financial challenges.

He said it was difficult for the department to deliver meaningful results while operating with such limited funding.

The minister noted that the department previously received over E30 million annually, which allowed it to implement large-scale land preparation programmes nationwide.

However, the sharp budget cut has significantly reduced its operational capacity.

… MPs alarmed: Only 103 youth benefited from Artisan Programme

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament have expressed shock that only 103 young people benefited from the government’s Artisan Programme despite the country’s large youth population.

The figures were revealed during debate on the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs’ Annual Performance Report presented by Minister Bongani Nxumalo.

According to the report, 103 youth artisans received start-up toolkits, while 91 others were given seed capital to start agribusiness ventures.

Zombodze Emuva MP Ntando Mkhonta suggested that the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) should be led by a younger person who better understands the challenges facing youth.

He argued that youth programmes needed to move beyond small-scale ventures.

“There is nothing substantial that a person can profit from such small businesses.
Why are we limiting what the youth are capable of?” he asked.

Mpolonjeni MP Kwanele Ndzimandze also questioned the focus on agriculture projects.

He said unpredictable weather patterns were making farming increasingly risky for young entrepreneurs.

“Has the Youth Fund considered diversifying projects instead of encouraging youth to focus mainly on agriculture?” he asked.

Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi ‘Mdockies’ Hlophe said the number of beneficiaries was disappointing.

“If in a country this large only these numbers have benefited, that is embarrassing,” he said.

Siphofaneni MP Nomalungelo Simelane also criticised under-expenditure on youth programmes.

“The youth have ideas they can implement if given the necessary funding and platforms. Litiko alingalali etukwemsebenti,” she said.

Mahlangatsha MP Mgucisi Dlamini questioned the effectiveness of the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund, saying some youth in his constituency believed the programme existed more on paper than in practice.

Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo urged the ministry to expand programmes so that more young people could benefit.

Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba and Mtsambama MP Sibongile Mamba (R).

The Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka during the ministry’s annual performance report debate by its portfolio committee in Parliament yesterday. (Pics: Khulile Thwala)

Members of Parliament Sifiso Jele (L) and Lugongolweni MP Joseph Souza yesterday in Parliament during the Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry’s debate of the annual performance report.