Back off!
LOBAMBA— Finance Minister Majozi Sithole has said politicians and Cabinet ministers should keep away from public procurement.
He said his ministry would not be paying any suppliers who had not followed the correct procurement procedures.
Although he did not make reference to any particular matter, he said "even if I had eaten that food it does not mean that the ministry will pay."
Sithole was responding to a question posed by Lugongolweni Member of Parliament (MP), Joseph Souza, who wanted to know why the Tender Board was being bypassed in government procurement, and he made the example of the Public Works and Transport Minister Ntuthuko Dlamini who was at the forefront of the purchase of 900 vehicles by government to the tune of E400 million.
Sithole said no one was expected to bypass the Tender Board.
He said there were some instances where people, especially politicians and Cabinet ministers, had not followed the correct procedure.
"In other instances you find that even the controlling officer had been bypassed and the supplier has also delivered," he said.
He said the suppliers deliver when there is not even a purchase order.
"We will not be paying even if we ate and we celebrated and we were merry," said Sithole.
Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo, wanted Sithole to clarify on the issue of the food.
Sithole said he was not talking about any particular matter.
"I cannot be found to be guilty if I am invited by MP Thandi Nxumalo to her house and I find that she has prepared for me a stolen cow," he said. He said whatever had been ill-gotten would not go unpunished.
He said in many instances government had continued to lose money because suppliers always delivered goods which were sometimes without the authority or order.
Of note is that during the official opening of Parliament a catering tender was awarded to the Correctional Services Canteen Club. Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini, who is the controlling officer, has disassociated himself from the matter stating that it was the Parliamentary Services Board’s (PSB) baby.
Khumalo also wanted to know how some companies were awarded tenders without following the full provisions of the law. He said the minister needed to ensure that before he vacated office everything was left in order.
Country has good relationship with IMF
LOBAMBA—Finance Minister Majozi Sithole has said the country has a very good relationship with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Sithole said from time to time both organisations lend technical assistance to the country including those from the African Development Bank.
Sithole was responding to a question posed by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo who wanted to know how relations between Swaziland and the financial organisations were because in some instances their advices were ignored particularly on the wage bill and other factors. "Fortunately we are dealing with professionals and in most cases we agree to disagree," said Sithole.
He said it was not true that they ignored their advice, but in some instance there was nothing that could be done if there was no political will. "They may not be happy about some of the things we do, but our relationship is very good," said Sithole.
AG’s govt flat ‘occupied by relatives’
LOBAMBA — The Auditor General, Phestecia Themba Nxumalo, is alleged to have left her government flat to be occupied by her relatives.
This allegation was made by Motshane MP, Robert Magongo, during the budget performance report by the House of Assembly Finance Portfolio Committee chaired by Manzini South MP Thandi Nxumalo. Magongo alleged that the AG has since moved out of the flat at Phonjwane in Mbabane into her own house.
"However, since she moved out of the flat she allowed her relatives to move in and her pay slip still reflects that an amount of E250 is still being deducted from her salary, yet she has since vacated the house," alleged Magongo.
Still on the Auditor General, Magongo asked who was responsible for auditing that particular office. He further alleged that the present AG had refused to return with a financial report of the Swazi Embassy in New York after she had been sent by the then AG, Africa Hadebe.
"She told the then AG that she would only give the report to him after he had vacated office," said Magongo. He said the Finance Minister, Majozi Sithole, should set up a commission of enquiry into the matter.
Magongo said he was not impressed in the manner in which the AG carried herself as her office was supposed to act like one of a public protector. "However, her actions leave a lot to be desired and she doesn’t seem to be an honest person," Magongo alleged. "Akasicotfo" he added in vernacular.
Magongo said the AG’s office was seemingly treated as if it was holy by the ministry. Sithole in turn accused Motshane MP Magongo of being unprofessional.
He said Magongo was attacking the AG personally because her office with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were probing Magongo’s company.
"I am trying to be as professional as I can, but the questions you are asking here are personal. You must just declare that you are fighting the officer because your company is under investigation," said Sithole.
He said he did not know that the AG had failed to deliver an audit report.
As the minister seemed to get upset Lobamba Lomdzala MP, Marwick Khumalo, interjected and said he also had questions about the AG’s office but because of the on-going court matter against the AG he could not ask them.
"I am very grateful for your professionalism, I wish it could trickle down to other parties," said Sithole taking a jibe at Magongo.
Sithole said the office of the AG was audited two years ago by a private firm, but said he was going to consult on what the law stated about the auditing of the AG’s office. He did not respond to the allegation on the accommodation for the AG.
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