We encourage transparency – MP Malavi

MANZINI – Kukhanyeni Member of Parliament (MP) Malavi Sihlongonyane has highlighted that the issue of transparency was key to the water project impasse in Maliyaduma.

Maliyaduma is one of the areas falling within the jurisdiction of the charismatic MP. Sihlongonyane acknowledged that there were issues surrounding funds collected from the people in respect to the project.

He said some of the residents raised concerns over the alleged outstanding payments, which were being demanded by the project committee. “I am aware that people had been questioning issues around the monies being collected by the project committee. As an MP of the area, I have been following the matter from the front and attending meetings with the community so I am well aware of the issues on the ground.

Costing

“As much as I understand the bases of the costing by the committee, I cannot dispute the fact that the people are well within their rights to call for transparency. Personally, I do understand the committee but I am also not blind to the fact that such things need to be fairly presented to the people to avoid such things,” he said.

Sihlongonyane said he had been trying to assist the community on the matter and, therefore, he believed that such issues should be solved in a meeting.

He further pledged to make a formal request to government for assistance in covering costs for the audit.

“In one of the meetings, the issue of an audited statement was raised and one of the participants did mention that the

community would have to pay for the audit, which I think could be one of the reasons it was not done. I will do my best to request for assistance from government on the matter,” he said.

He further added that the area needed the water scheme and called upon those involved to work in unity to ensure that no family was without clean water.

Government has made it her priority to provide water for all by 2022 as stated in the National Development Strategy (NDS) and is also striving to meet Millennium Development Goal (MDG 7) number seven to half people without access to potable water.