Times Of Swaziland: EZULWINI MUNICIPALITY SURPLUS UP 33.8%

EZULWINI MUNICIPALITY SURPLUS UP 33.8%
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Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 08/10/2024 08:20:00


MBABANE – For the year ended March 31, 2024, the Ezulwini Municipality
recorded an impressive surplus showing an increase of at least 33.8 per cent
when compared to the previous year.
According to the municipal’s annual report for the 2023/24 financial year, a
total comprehensive surplus for the year realised was E11 671 943, while in
2022/23 it was E8 719 698. This reflects a 33.8 per cent increase. The
institution’s assets increased to E154 301 440 from the E142 409 921 realised
in the previous year. In his remarks carried in the report, the Ezulwini
Municipality Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mathokoza Shongwe, said the 2023/24
financial year was one of making incremental progress and finding traction for
the Office of the Chief Executive. He said it has also been a year of venturing
into unfettered territory bringing on board new interventions in order to deal
with the social dynamics that have hit hard the municipality in particular and
the nation in general.
Shongwe added that as has been the case in the past, they obtained an
unqualified financial audit opinion as stated in their 2023/24 financials. He
said this is no small task and is in part attributed to the oversight provided
by their finance committee and full council, together with strong financial
management from the office. “We remain committed to ensuring that the public
funds that we steward are utilised prudently through following the laidout
procurement protocols and striving for the right value for money,” he said.
During this reporting period, the council installed solar streetlights in
various townships in Ezulwini. The project duration was two months, and it was
successfully completed in May 2023. A total of 85 solar streetlights were
installed. This project is in line with one of our strategic objectives, which
is to provide a safe environment in Ezulwini.
The installation of streetlights was executed on the following streets:
* Umsinsi Street
* Kunene Street
* Ligugu Street
* Hospital Street
* Bishop Close
* Makholwa Street
* Buhleni Close
During this reporting period, the municipality received a total of 22 building
applications with an estimated value of E61 689 050. The value of approved
commercial building applications was E42 192 850, while the value of residential
applications was E19 496 200.