PM TIGHTENS SCREWS ON GOVT SPENDING

LOBAMBA – Talk about tightening the screws. During the Sibaya People’s Parliament, he declared that the country would soar like an eagle again, and Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini already has a perfect strategy to make this a reality.

True to his declaration, the PM and his Cabinet have taken eight drastic decisions which will provide the way to saving the country from the economic abyss. If Dlamini’s words are anything to go by, the country will start spending as little money as possible.

In a press conference held in Parliament yesterday, the PM announced that his Cabinet decided to implement major internal fiscal decisions to enhance financial prudence and controls, as means of dealing with the current economic challenges.

Operations

As if he wanted to make a statement that he had come to introduce a new era in the operations of government, the PM rocked up in Parliament dressed in traditional regalia, for the first time since he replaced the late Sibusiso Dlamini.

He outlined that he, the deputy prime minister, Cabinet ministers, presiding officers, principal secretaries and all others in the same category, will no longer travel first class but in business class when flying on national duties.

All other public servants will fly in economy class.
For years, there had been concerns from Members of Parliament (MPs), economists and the public at large that so much money was being spent on international trips that were undertaken by government top officials, including ministers.

The second decision that the PM and his Cabinet have taken is that government would not buy new vehicles for him and the DPM in the interim but instead, they will utilise the vehicles that were used by their predecessors, which will only be serviced as and when required.

“Government will not hire any vehicles for use by Cabinet ministers. They will utilise vehicles available in the government pool. All vehicles recently rented for ministers will be returned to contain expenditure,” the PM said as he outlined the third decision taken by his Cabinet.
Also mentioned in the fiscal decisions was that monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for all external travel shall be enhanced to ensure that only assignments of national importance were embarked on by civil servants.

This, the PM said, was also applicable to parastatals that were expected to strictly adhere to their governing policies and procedures, and ensure cost effective measures.
“All sponsored external travel, as approved, will no longer attract quarter rate for all public servants. Tendering within government will be suspended for lack of effective controls and suspected overpricing. However, in situations of pressing need, Cabinet will advise,” highlighted the PM.

As if to send a message home that despite introducing money saving decisions, he still cared for the people, the PM gave a relief to consumers by adding that the increase in utility tariffs was suspended pending improvement in the economic situation.

This means that consumers will be given a break from increasing prices of water, electricity and other commodities.
In order to ensure that the decisions mapped well with the country’s future aspirations, including attaining First World status by 2022, Dlamini assured that a strategic roadmap towards economic recovery would be presented by government in due course.

After announcing the decisions, the PM made it clear that they were by no means exhaustive but that all other issues that had a negative impact on the economy of the country would be attended to progressively.

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