DPM, AMBASSADOR’S E2.5M CARS IDLE AT CTA

mbongeni@times.co.sz

MBABANE – What a waste!

Two top-of-the-range government vehicles; a Mercedes Benz and a Land Rover Discovery, that cost taxpayers over E2 million, are currently lying idle and unattended to at the Central Transport Administration (CTA). 

This is the case even though government is currently faced with a shortage of cars in its pool and a proposal has been made for the procurement of a new fleet. What has made these vehicles to become a concern is that they are both in good condition and they are ready for usage. It has been gathered though that they have been parked for two years now without any movement. They are a sorry sight at the CTA’s workshop.

The Times SUNDAY has established that the Mercedes Benz is valued at E1.7 million while the Land Rover discovery cost around E800 000. This effectively means both vehicles cost taxpayers E2.5 million to procure.

Information reaching this publication is that the Mercedes Benz belonged to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) while the Land Rover was allocated to the Mozambique Embassy.

According to information sourced from the CTA, government had purchased the Mercedes for former DPM Paul Dlamini. Dlamini is now Chairperson of the King’s Advisory Council (Liqoqo) and before he left office in 2018, government was supposed to purchase a vehicle for him in respect of Finance Circular No.2 of 2013. Dlamini was entitled to the vehicle by virtue of being the former deputy prime minister.

Meanwhile, the Land Rover is said to have been used by the late Prince Tshekedi when he was still the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Eswatini to Mozambique. It has also been gathered that the vehicle was also used by former High Commissioner Christian Nkambule before it was returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then taken to the CTA, where it has been lying idle since.

Govt channels blamed

Washington Khumalo, the CTA General Transport Manager, said the Mercedes Benz could have been long handed to Dlamini but the administration was still waiting for authorisation from the Ministry of Finance. Khumalo confirmed that both vehicles were in good condition. 

He said as soon as they received authority from the ministry, they would deliver the vehicle to the Liqoqo chairman. “The Land Rover will form part of the vehicles that would be auctioned by government. We have compiled a list of these vehicles and we are waiting for the process to go ahead,” he said.

He continued: “For the Land Rover, we’re waiting for its papers from Mozambique so that it could be cleared.”

DPM in the dark

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku said he has taken interest in vehicles that are used to chauffeur him. He said even though he had not questioned anyone about the vehicles allocated to him, but the Mercedes had made him develop an interest in vehicles belonging to his office. 

“What they normally do is that they send a vehicle, depending on the kind of assignment I am expected to attend on the day. Currently, I am being chauffeured in a BMW X5 which I am told belonged to a former minister. They don’t tell me about changing of vehicles,” he said.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Khangeziwe Mabuza said she was not aware of the issue of the Land Rover but said the Mercedes Benz was approved by the ministry to be released to Dlamini. “The issue of the Mercedes was approved. All I know is that the vehicle should be with Dlamini by now. However, after we approved its transfer we handed the matter to the Ministry of Finance which is responsible for issuing authority,” the PS said. 

When drawn for comment, the chairman of Liqoqo said he had no information regarding the whereabouts of the Mercedes Benz. He said nothing had been communicated to him. “Kute lengikwatiko,” he said, meaning, ‘I know nothing’

Meanwhile, Abednigo Ntshangase, the Eswatini High Commissioner to Mozambique, has confirmed that the Land Rover belonged to the embassy. 

At first, Ntshangase denied knowledge of the vehicle but later, after consulting, confirmed knowledge of the vehicle. “I have since inquired about it and I am told it’s the one that was utilised by the late HRH Prince Tshekedi when he was the High Commissioner to Mozambique,” he said. 

Finance Circular No.2

The Times of Eswatini reported on February 21, 2019 that the CTA had already procured the Mercedes Benz through Tender No.99 of 2018/2019. It had not been delivered at that time, and its precise price was fixed at E1 727 858.80.

The car, as per Finance Circular No.2 of 2013, was to be owned and maintained by government. Upon his death, it was to be sold to his estate at depreciated value.

According to Article 5 of the Circular, the former DPM, who once served as the Shiselweni Regional Administrator and Lubombo Regional Secretary, was eligible for other several benefits, which included a monthly salary of E55 581.60.

Based on what the Circular stipulates, he will not be eligible to receive two salaries at the same time from the same source of fund.

It effectively means he would depend on the pay from Liqoqo, which is around E50 000, excluding sitting allowances. The E55 581.60 he was to get as a pensioner equates to 80 per cent of the basic salary he earned when he deputised for deceased former Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini. 

Reads the clause which deprives the ex-DPM of his lucrative benefits: “To maintain the dignity of the prime minister and deputy prime minister, this framework provides for the former prime minister and deputy prime minister, certain benefits to assist them to respond to post parliamentary life.”

It then attaches strings to the benefits: “They will be eligible for these benefits unless they hold an appointive or elective position in government, to which a rate of pay is attached.”

One of the benefits for Dlamini, which government sources said would fall away as a result of his royal appointment, was the monthly salary of E55 581.60. Initially, he did not need to work for this money.

 Another benefit he was to get from government is the provision of security, which was to be in line with his risk profile as determined by the national commissioner of police.

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