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LOBAMBA – Senators heard how Microprojects is now perceived to be overlapping other development initiatives of government.
Microprojects is a government department charged with the responsibility to implement public-centric projects, worth less than E25 million. These include building of classrooms, fencing of projects, agricultural projects to name but a few. It is under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.
Microprojects Director Sibusiso Mbingo said there was a wrong narrative that Microprojects was now in competition with government capital projects, administered under other ministries.
He said meetings had been convened with other government departments, where means to harmonise Microprojects with other initiatives were discussed.
Mandates
This was after Senators had pointed to contrasting mandates between the responsibilities of Microprojects and those of the Regional Development Fund (RDF).
He said one of the means to change the narrative was to give Microprojects another name, which could give a clearer meaning to its scope of services.
The general feeling was that the name ‘Microprojects’ resonated with the colonial era.
“We are also not happy at the perception that this department is in conflict with other national development initiatives. Kusilondza lesikhulukitsi (it’s a pain in the side). We are fully supportive of the idea to give it a neutral name.”
He said he had no qualms with the E25 million ceiling for Microprojects because if it was not stipulated, the department would end up being expected to build highways.
“In reality, RDF and Microprojects complement each other in many ways, especially because the former is concerned with income generating projects. Micro projects will continue with footbridges, schools and other small capital projects,” he said.
He said as the legislation governing the operations of Microprojects was being reviewed, there should be a provision by which traditional structures should also be informed and engaged on the projects being driven by the department.
Senator Vuka ‘Moi Moi’ Masilela advised Mbingo to speak to the prime minister (PM) if he felt the name Microprojects was no longer applicable. He said the PM would then engage the King.
He also warned that Microprojects should build community halls on neutral pieces of land to avoid a situation that someone would claim ownership of the structure, especially in the aura of chieftaincy disputes.
Other senators complained that too much attention was being given to Microprojects yet the RDF was initiated by the King but receiving lessor attention.