elections to cost taxpayers E200m

E125m for FPE

This is largely as a result of the fact that the number of grades for free primary increases by one class each year.

Finance Minister Majozi Sithole yesterday assured that government would continue rolling out state-funded primary education for Grade V and the first quarter of Grade VI in 2014 at a cost of over E100 million, with the European Union continuing to support government by funding Grade I pupils.

"Mr Speaker, this policy is already paying dividends. The enrolment at the primary school level increased by seven percentage points from 86 to 93 per cent between 2009 and 2012."

E170.5 million for OVC

The last time the figure was increased was in 2012/2013 when it rose by almost E20m from the 2011/2012 allocation of E150.5 million.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s 0ffice is responsible for administering this Fund.

Over the past years, the DPM’s office has been at loggerheads with school principals over delayed payment of fees for children paid for under the Fund.

In almost all instances, the DPM has managed to convince the principals to let the pupils continue with lessons while the payment was being sorted out.

At one point, an investigation was carried out into this Fund after there was a huge rise in the number of children being listed as beneficiaries.

The probe, conducted by the Auditor General, found that children of teachers and a number of civil servants were among the benefactors.

These were removed from the list.

E220 million more for Sikhuphe

Last year, Minister of Finance Majozi Sithole allocated E315 million towards the same project.

Sithole, when presenting the 2013/2014 budget speech said government was preparing to open the airport this year, stating that this would open up a new trade avenue for investors.

"Legislation to regulate the airline industry is complete and waiting to be passed by Parliament. The project has been allocated an additional E220 million to complete essential works," he said.

The Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA) will receive an additional E57 million to prepare for the operations of the airport and according to the minister, the organisation had already engaged a number of countries to sign Bilateral Air Services Agreements and said they were encouraged by the interest expressed by some airlines.

"Further allocations have been provided to establish police, immigration, fire and meteorological services and new controlled urban areas," he explained.

The Sikhuphe International Airport was expected to have been officially opened ahead of the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa.

SWACAA Director Solomon Dube said the delay was caused by the financial crisis, which not only affected Swaziland but the world over.

He pointed out that they had received an order from government to complete the project soon.

"His Majesty must rest assured that the order will be carried out. And fortunately, the country has recovered, economically," he said.

Currently, Dube said they have received a green light from government to recruit personnel.

These include traffic controllers, control tower operators, efficient security, finance and human resources.

Dube added that the contractors have started handing over some equipment to government.

"This is a process we call site acceptance," he said.

Asked if they had identified airlines to operate the airport, Dube said the process started in 2008.

"We are talking to some including Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airline and various Gulf airlines. What remains now, is a study on where do Swazis want to fly to.

"This will make it easy for airliners to say I should go to Swaziland because there are customers there," said Dube.

Also, Sithole mentioned that government would provide E10 million for the new railway link project known as Lothair.

He said air transport was not suitable for transporting bulk goods, stating that this was the reason the governments of South Africa and Swaziland had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Lothair project.

"Together, we will look at options to build a new railway link with Gauteng and Durban and possibly Maputo. E10 million has been provided to prepare the preliminary designs. The project is at an early stage, but once developed, the railway will allow quicker and cheaper transport of goods made in Swaziland to these major ports," he added.