TINDVUNA TETINKHUNDLA GET E9.3M BACK PAY

MBABANE - The country’s tindvuna tetinkhundla will start the year with hefty bank balances.

This is because government has approved the payment of their back pay on car allowance which they did not receive last month.

The approval means that government will spend an additional over E9 million in salaries to cater for motor vehicle allowance for the tindvuna tetinkhundla this month.

This is according to Circular No.2, dated November 18, 2020. 

Each indvuna yenkhundla is expected to pocket E157 500 before tax this month. The total amount expected to be paid to the tindvuna tetinkhundla is E9 292 500 if the money is back-dated to 12 months.

It should be noted that in December last year, the tindvuna tetinkhundla were mistakenly omitted from the car allowances pay.

Our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY, reported that government had paid Members of Parliament (MPs) a gross salary of E126 318 each.

The amount included 10 per cent back pay for the motor vehicle allowance, plus a basic salary of E46 318.

Remuneration 

Currently, local politicians are paid through Finance Circular No.2 of 2013 as a circular set for the remuneration and perks of the 11th Parliament politicians was suspended. 

In terms of the circular, both MPs and tindvuna tetinkhundla are entitled to the motor vehicle allowance, maintenance and insurance allowance.

It was reported that they were omitted by the payment system and were only paid their salaries of E15 000 each, but were then sent notifications to the effect that they would receive the money this month.

Lobamba Indvuna Yenkhundla Bhekisisa Bhembe, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, confirmed that they had received communication to the effect that they would be paid this month. “Yes, it has been confirmed that we will be paid this month. We are so happy because this money will help us a lot. We have many debts which we committed with many financial institutions when we assumed office,” he said.

Elaborating, Bhembe said the money would ensure that their salaries were not affected as their debts would be catered for.

“The circular is clear that we are the same as MPs when it comes to car allowance. What happened in December was an oversight. After we communicated with the principal secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, she assured us that the issue would be rectified this month. 

“We would like to thank her and government as a whole for keeping that promise,” said Bhembe.

He sang praises to the PS, Nonhlanhla Dlamini, saying she had always welcomed them and they were able to communicate with her directly.

Bhembe said even though they had not received a document detailing the back pay format, they were expecting to receive around E129 832 after tax deduction of just above E23 000. 

“I am yet to see the document but we will have it soon. After this, we want to try and engage government on the issue of bucopho. We have scheduled a meeting for January 23, where the leaders of tinkhundla will deliberate on how we can formally submit a request to government on the remuneration of bucopho,” he stated.

He said they wished that bucopho, could also receive car allowances despite that there were many of them. 

The country has around 359 bucopho, which means government would have to spend more money to cater for their car allowances.

Bhembe said they expected to be paid today while those who got salaries late would get theirs early next week.

After the car allowances were not deposited into their accounts last year, some of the tindvuna tetinkhundla shared their disappointment with this publication, saying they had budget for the money. 

Some of them, having discussed the matter on their WhatsApp group took a resolution to send a representative to the Ministry of Finance to request that it be looked into.

They relayed that they had budgeted to buy food hampers for the less privileged and elderly people. Called for comment, Ministry of Finance Communications Officer Setsabile Dlamini, said the ministry was mandated with the issuance of the relevant circular and ministries handled the implementation.

“In this case, the Ministry of Finance issued the Addendum to Finance Circular No.2 dated November 18, 2020 and the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development is responsible for the implementation of the vehicle allowances,” she said.

Maintenance 

Dlamini reiterated that the circular provided that tindvuna tetinkhundla will receive an annual motor vehicle allowance of E90 000 and motor vehicle maintenance and insurance of E67 500.

“The effective date of the circular is October 11, 2018 and, therefore, will attract back pay,” the communications officer explained.

When asked if it was true that tindvuna will receive the money in their January pay, she explained that the Tinkhundla Ministry was in a better position to respond as it was the one that prepared the instrument.

The PS confirmed on Wednesday that tindvuna will receive their car allowance back pay in their January salaries.

Dlamini said she had sent officials from the Accounts Department and they had confirmed that the money had been deposited into the accounts.

“What I can confirm is that it will be part of their January pay. When we discovered the error, we could not rest. Upon checking with the Treasury Department, I found that the Accounts Department had sampled some of the accounts and verified that the money was deposited. However, there are many tindvuna tetinkhundla, so I cannot guarantee that all of them will receive it until I receive a report on that,” she said.

She explained that she had been receiving calls from some of them, enquiring if they would receive the money. “I had no problem with those calls because this is their money. I am happy that the preliminary work I have done reflects that the money has been deposited,” she said.

An indvuna yenkhundla is an elected head of the inkhundla authority. 

He or she is responsible and accountable to bucopho (inkhundla executive council) and the regional administrator for administrative and policy parameters. 

Indvuna yenkhundla is the chairperson of the inkhundla and responsible for presiding over all official meetings of the inkhundla, supervising the work of bucopho in the respective chiefdoms and ensuring that decisions that bucopho are implemented.

Other responsibilities of tindvuna tetinkhundla include supervising the inkhundla secretary, regularly updating chiefs on all social and economic development projects implemented, ensuring the preparation and implementation of development plans and attending meetings at chiefdoms and when necessary. According to the circular, the money is part of the allowances designed to ensure that parliamentarians are paid and reimbursed for costs properly incurred in the performance of their duties.

Allowance 

The circular states that the motor vehicle allowance is intended to reimburse the parliamentarians for the capital outlay in respect of the acquisition of a private motor vehicle. 

Such a vehicle, according to the provisions of the circular, may not be bought on a government contract or tender and must be negotiated directly with a particular dealership. 

It states that government may negotiate discounted rates with certain vehicle manufacturers or dealerships on behalf of the parliamentarians; however, it is the prerogative of the parliamentarian to arrange and negotiate the financing of the motor vehicle.

“The receipt of the motor vehicle allowance is not entirely subject to the parliamentarian acquiring ownership of a private vehicle. The motor vehicle allowance includes running and maintenance costs,” states the circular.

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