Times Of Swaziland: Bulletproof X5s for security chiefs

Bulletproof X5s for security chiefs
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MUSA SIMELANE on 25/02/2013 00:00:00


MBABANE – The BMWs government has purchased for the three national security
chiefs are 2013 X5 models estimated at US$164 000 (approximately E1.3 million)
each.
They were bought straight from Germany and are expected to be delivered sometime
next month.
According to South Africa’s e.TV’s eNCA Africa Edition news on Friday, the
custom made vehicles were top-notch and came with extras such as bulletproof
windows. In total, taxpayers will fork out about E3.9 million for the buy.
Elegant
Minister for Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini, on state radio last
Friday, said government found it befitting to upgrade the commissioners from
2002 Toyota Camry sedans to something more elegant.
Part of the sale agreement with government is that the manufacturer will
specially train those who will be entrusted with driving the vehicles because of
their high-tech nature.
However, the minister revealed that the BMWs came with tough warranty
conditions.
For about five years no other driver except the ones trained will drive the
cars. If unauthorised personnel got behind the steering wheel the warranty would
be immediately forfeited and that would spell the end of free maintenance
services.
Serviced
The three security chiefs in question are Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF)
Commander Lieutenant Sobantu Dlamini, Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) Commissioner
Isaac Magagula and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner
Isaiah Mzuthini Ntshangase.
Warranty
"As part of the warranty the three vehicles will be serviced free of charge, and
that’s what we want as a ministry," explained the minister.
The top of the range vehicles, according to the minister in an interview last
week, would be delivered to Swaziland.
Up until the leading South African news channel named the brand of the vehicles,
the minister had been cagey.
He did not reveal the price of the vehicles when asked last week.
He, however, revealed that the drivers of the commissioners’ vehicles would be
trained on handling the top of the range vehicles.
According to the BMW website driver training is offered on a number of aspects
of driving, which have to do with defensive driving, safety package, advance
high performance, collision avoidance and skid control.
Replacing
Since 2002 the three security chiefs had been driving Toyota Camry sedans and
had become old. Government, through the Central Transport Administration (CTA)
Trading Account with a balance of E400 million intends replacing the government
fleet with 940 vehicles.
The minister said government would stick to one or two vehicle brands that were
less costly to maintain and its suppliers exhibited attractive after-sales
services such as warranties.
Efforts to get the exact details about the vehicles, that is, the model, year
and their worth were unsuccessful as the minister did not respond to calls and a
text message.
Government Press Secretary Percy Simelane could not be reached for comment
yesterday; his mobile phone was switched off the MTN network.
... we deserve the x5s- commissioners
MBABANE - HMCS and RSP Commissioners believe they deserve the BMW X5s cars
because of their status.
His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner Isaiah Mzuthini
Ntshangase and his Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) counterpart Isaac Magagula
believe that the status of their offices called for need of a certain type of
car.
However, the two, in separate interviews yesterday, were quick to point out that
their main area of interest was the purchase of working vehicles.
Ntshangase said the office of being a security force boss required a special car
owing to the nature of the position.
Fancy
"In the SADC region, Swaziland is lagging; our colleagues are driving fancy cars
like Mercedes Benz," the HMCS Commissioner said.
SADC is the Southern African Development Community.
"We did not see that the car is expensive. Government exercised its discretion
to buy those cars. As a department, we made a request to government for vehicles
for all departments. We would be happy if they could be delivered," Ntshangase
said.
The HMCS Commissioner said he was using an old Camry Sedan that had been used by
several of his predecessors.
On the other hand, Magagula said they requested government for supply of a fleet
of vehicles because of crisis in the department.
Delivery
The RSP Commissioner said some of the cars were old and could not reach remote
places.
"Our interest is service delivery for the people I was tasked to serve. Service
delivery cannot be attained without vehicles," he said.
The Commissioner said he was restless about the vehicle crisis in the department
because he wanted the nation to be ‘served’ well by the police no matter the
distance or area.
Magagula said he did not mind if government saw it fit to buy them the BMW X5s.
He said certain positions needed certain cars for their status.
"It’s difficult to answer if we deserve the cars or not. The government
department which buys the cars can better answer that," he said.