Times Of Swaziland: SPORTS MINISTRY SENDS SOS ON ZONE VI DEBT

SPORTS MINISTRY SENDS SOS ON ZONE VI DEBT
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 BY DUMISANI NTIWANE on 13/03/2014 01:56:00


MBABANE – The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs has resolved to
approach the Finance Ministry to help settle the Zone VI debt.
The country owes US$316 823 (approximately E3 million) after hosting the Zone VI
Under-20 Games in 2010.
In his written responses to the Members of Parliament (MPs) after the
ministry’s annual performance report in Parliament last week, Minister David
‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala said they were hoping the Ministry of Finance would
come to their rescue. The country has less than two months to settle the debt in
full or risk suspension.
“An approach has been made to the Ministry of Finance to facilitate and/or
provide funds to settle this amount. However, this request has not yet been met.
The SCSA/Zone VI Council of Ministers at their last meeting resolved to suspend
Swaziland from participating in all regional activities with effect from May 1,
2014 if the outstanding amount is not settled by April 30.
“A debt of US$316 823 was accumulated by the country in respect of 25 per cent
of the participation fees collected by the Local Organising Committee that was
due to the SCSA/ZONE VI secretariat as per the Games Protocol Agreement. This
was mainly due to financial constraints at the time,” part of the report from
the minister’s answers read.