Motion on parastatals without CEOs

LOBAMBA – A motion calling for the minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to give answers why, under his portfolio, three out of four parastatals have been without chief executive officers for a very long time, is on the cards.

This is one of four questions that are set to be posed by Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament (MP) Marwick Khumalo.

In the same question, Khumalo will enquire if the minister was aware that by his action or inaction, the parastatals were becoming redundant.

Another question expected to be posed by MP Khumalo will be directed to the minister of Agriculture on why maize farmers had to get permission from the ministry before purchasing weevil tablets, (liphilisi lengobolwane) anywhere whereas they did not get permission when purchasing the most deadly army worm Master 900 chemical.

The Lobamba Lomdzala MP is also expected to seek answers from the minister of Natural Resources and Energy on why he was not giving his full attention to the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC)’s continued unpatriotic and economy sequestration legacy exporting all the country’s resources by giving South African suppliers large tendered woks.

The tender works, according to the notice paper, include locally available electric poles while reserving the menial electric installation jobs for local companies.

“Why should the legacy started by the recently-relinquished dubious leadership and management be allowed to continue?” the MP is expected to ask.

On another note, MPs are expected to move a variety of private members’ motions.

In one of them, MP Sompisi Magagula is expected to move that the minister of Public Service should seriously consider reintroducing the enhanced voluntary early retirement scheme (EVERS) for public servants with the view to, inter alia reduce the wage bill, promote alternative service delivery (ASD) and synchronising of skills with jobs and performance management systems (PMS) and incentivising the early retired public servants to start businesses to stimulate economic growth.

In the motion, Magagula is expected to be seconded by Mhlume MP Victor Malambe and they will also call for the minister to lay on the table a comprehensive report with definite timelines within three months of passing the motion.