MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has attributed the delay in decentralising fingerprint scanners across Eswatini to a lack of sufficient funding.
Dlamini was responding to a question for oral posed by Ngudzeni Member of Parliament Charles Ndlovu who wanted the PM to provide a timeline regarding the introduction of fingerprint scanners across all four regions.
“This information would be greatly appreciated as it helps in the understanding of the progress and implementation plan for this initiative,” wrote Ndlovu in his question.
Ndlovu submitted that people were spending a lot on transport, travelling from far places to get to Mbabane where the service is currently offered. He said that decentralising this service could take the burden off for emaSwati who have to bear the costs of travelling every time they need the service yet it was an essential one.
Dlamini said they do see the need to decentralise the service and he shared his office will engage the Ministry of Finance to seek funding for the decentralisation of the service.
Meanwhile, Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo withdrew a motion that was directed to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade where he submitted that the minister should formulate legislation or rather bring an amendment that seeks to incorporate the Regulatory and Quality Infrastructure Development (RQID) Department and the Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) into a single parastatal, since the purpose of establishing the latter was precisely to fill the void of an authority on quality and standards as it obtains in the entire civilised world.
“This would further save costs for the government from funding two entities with similar objectives. The Minister should table the Bill together with regulations in the House, within 60 days after the adoption of this motion,” he said.
Khumalo, who was seconded by Kubuta MP Masiphula Mamba, said that he needed to make a few amendments to the motion, hence its withdrawal, which the House agreed to.
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