Over E417 000 spent on 2
MBABANE – The country spends at least E417 000 monthly, in rentals for Ethiopia and London Embassy houses due to dilapidated state of the houses bought by the State.
The country pays US$14 000, which is equivalent to E259 000 at the rented embassy house in Ethiopia and 7 000 Pounds, which is equivalent to E158 000 for the embassy in London, and the sum of these figures is E417 000.
This is despite that the country bought land and built the embassy houses in both countries, but lack of proper maintenance has resulted in them downgrading to junk status.
The information came to the fore during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s annual portfolio committee performance report presentation for the financial year 2022/23 at Senate yesterday.
In the financial year commencing April 1, 2024, the ministry has requested E23 million for capital projects, which will be channelled towards rehabilitation of some of the embassies, as revealed by Minister Thuli Dladla.
She said that as much as the budget was low, given the task at hand, some of the embassies needed to be rebuilt, particularly the one in London. She was hopeful that this would go a long way in helping the situation.
Senator Vuka Moi Moi Masilela expressed disappointment on the sorry sight of the country’s embassies, having been to some of them, as revealed in his submission.
He likened it to cruelty, that the country was sending its ambassadors to these countries, knowing very well that the conditions were not conducive for habitation.
Harping
He stated that it had been 30 years since Parliament had been harping on the same issue, but nothing was done to help the situation.
“We’d rather freeze Cabinet and Parliament salaries and channel same to build the embassy houses.
“These houses are the face of the country abroad and what picture are they painting about the Kingdom of Eswatini if they remain in a dilapidated state,” he wondered.
He urged the minister to prepare a plan of action on the embassy houses and present it to Parliament so that the required budget for the building of the embassy houses could be passed.
Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini echoed Masilela’s words, stating that it was a good thing for the country to buy the embassy houses but it was hazardous for the diplomats occupying them, if they were not properly maintained.
“It is of necessity that the houses be maintained accordingly and be presentable because they represent the country in the foreign land,” Dlamini said.
The issue of vehicles for the country’s diplomats also made the discussion, with the Senate president suggesting that the ministry should opt for leasing of these vehicles, because the advantage was that even if the vehicle developed mechanical faults, it would be the responsibility of the company the vehicle was leased from.
This was after it emerged that some of the vehicles used by the ambassadors were not in good condition, while others did not even have vehicles.
“Imagine a vehicle with the country’s flag parked on the side of the road because it has developed mechanical faults. It is not good for the country,” she said.
However, the minister explained that in some countries, like Britain, leasing was not allowed, hence they had to apply for other procurement options, including purchasing of the vehicles.
She stated that they had received a sum of E10 million from government, which would be used to purchase the vehicles.
She also shared that they were working with the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Prime Minister, in an attempt to secure a loan that would be used under capital projects for the building and rehabilitation of the embassy houses and she was hopeful that the current situation would be a thing of the past.
Anger
Also coming to the fore was that there were emaSwati living abroad, who had developed anger over their country of birth, due to unconfirmed political stories they were hearing about their country.
After enquiries on what the country was doing to restore its dignity following the political unrest that resulted in its image being tainted internationally, the minister said they were working with the ambassadors on that aspect, together with other agents that were helpful.
“We are doing all that we can to restore the country’s dignity, especially to the international world that had been made to believe that the country was politically frustrating its citizens, something that was not true,” she said.
Dladla said the country was blessed to have a leader who was rich in politics in His Majesty King Mswati III, who often offered advice.