Taiwan debt trap
dor to (swatini -eremy /iang, penned a letter to the editor, which was published in the 7imes of (swatini, in which he reiterated that 7aiwan was a loyal friend and perfect partner for (swatini in advancing prosperity and sustainable national development.
INVESTMENTS
He was responding to another letter to the editor from a local reader entitled ‘7aiwan vs China debate’, which called for open debate on whether (swatini would benefit more from cooperation with 7aiwan or investments from China.
7his earlier letter acknowledged that 7aiwan has been ‘a good friend for (swatini for many years and has been a true development partner through health, agriculture, textiles’.
'rawing attention to the huge infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese companies in $frican nations such as 1igeria, (thiopia and $ngola, it suggested that (swatini could miss out on Chinese investment initiatives because of diplomatic relations with 7aiwan. bloodshed.
He said it was unfortunate that these elements branded (swatini as the last absolute monarchy in $frica.
³Unfortunately there are unhinged nutters who call (swatini the last $frica’s absolute monarchy.
WONDERED
³How is our motherland called names by losers who call themselves experts"” he wondered.
He raised concern that they were blackmailing a stable and peaceful nation that ‘loves and respects’ its citi]ens, shielding them from wars and conflicts.
1xumalo said there was an agenda
In an effort to clarify any possible misunderstanding in the international community and prevent more $frican nations from being lured into China’s debt trap, $mbassador /iang pointed out in his letter that even though ‘China’s financial promises glitter like gold in the midday sun’, the facts were that highways, ports and railways built in ‘partnership’ with Chinese firms Tuickly become unaffordable burdens’ and were handed back to China to serve as ‘conduits for efficiently exporting a country’s natural resources and importing low-Tuality goods and cheap labour’.
/iang added that ‘China’s debt-trap diplomacy, as $frican, %alkan and South $sian countries have Tuickly come to discover, is a one-way ticket to poverty and servitude. It is also a surefire way of surrendering sovereignty forever.”
Furthermore, /iang observed that ³$frica and its people are celebrated the world over for casting off the shackles of colonialism. It would be a tragedy to turn back time for nothing more than the by certain people to blackmail the kingdom and its leaders for financial gain.
³We respect and appreciate partnerships and alliances on both mutual self interests, both in the short and long-term.
ARROGANCE
³We don’t appreciate bullying, arrogance and paternalism. 1o attack on our culture, privacy, way of life and history could be tolerated,” he said.
³We are not confused about who we are and we will always believe in constructive, negotiated terms, based on realistic and tangible understandings.” promise of a so-called free lunch.”
7aiwan and (swatini have maintained a close and cordial partnership since establishing diplomatic ties on September
, . Under the bilateral cooperation framework, 7aiwan assists the kingdom in meeting developmental needs and promoting priority programmes each year that enhance people’s livelihoods.
7hese programmes cover areas such as human resources, solar power, energy and minerals.
SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS
In addition, 7aiwan has a 0edical 0ission and 7echnical 0ission in (swatini, which conduct cooperative projects in 0edicine, agriculture, vocational training and IC7, providing substantial benefits to many people at the grassroots level.
0eanwhile, 0inister Gina also informed the portfolio committee that more was still needed for the ICC FISH project, especially the FISH part, which was presently per cent complete.
$ccording to the minister, more money
He added ³(swatini isn’t where it is today because of sucking up to super powers.”
³We will never accept the Goliath syndrome.”
1xumalo said (swatini believed in international conventions, obligations and charters to which it remained a signatory. He said the country was not coerced to be a signatory to these international treaties.
He said there was, therefore, no justifiable reason to use such conventions to hold the nation hostage on matters that did not concern emaSwati.
In $ugust 2022, the 7imes SU1'$< reported on a US$I' report in which it stated that (swatini was no longer an absolute monarchy.
Founded by former US 3resident -ohn F. .ennedy in , US$I' stated that even though the country was no longer an absolute monarchy, the transition to constitutional government was far from complete.
CONSTITUTIONAL
7he United States $gency for International 'evelopment US$I' is an agency of the US Federal Government.
US$I' said ³$lthough (swatini is no longer an absolute monarchy, the transition to constitutional government is far from being complete.”
It is the world’s premier international development agency.
It must be said that US officials then advised this newspaper that the US$I' observation did not represent the position of the United States Government.
7hey said US$I' did not represent the US Government in its was still needed for the entire project, although the ICC part was now near completion.
³7he anticipated completion of the ICC is 0arch 2024, depending on the availability of funds. 7he budget allocation for the next financial year is not enough to complete this project,” Gina said.
He said there was no budget provision for the FISH for the next financial year 2023/2024 ; therefore, it was not possible to ascertain its completion date, since there would be no work activity.
7his was the minister’s response to Tuestions posed by 1d]ingeni 03 /utfo 'lamini and 'eputy Speaker 0adala 0hlanga, who both wanted to know the completion date of the project.
0hlanga further wanted to know whether the latest budget allocation was enough to complete the project.
7he ICC has been allocated an amount of around ( 00 million for interior works in the coming 2023/2-24 financial year.
BREAKDOWN
0inister Gina was called upon by 'vokodvweni 03 0dudu]i 0agagula, to give the committee a breakdown of the ( 00 million that is said to be for the interior works. 7he minister stated that ( 24 44 , in loans funds, was for ceiling works, floors and greybox; and ( million, in local funds, was for interior walls cladding.
He said the progress on the implementation of the ICC greybox was rated at per cent completion, while on the FISH, the implementation rate was estimated at
per cent. =ombod]e (muva 03 0u]i .unene asked the minister if it would not be wiser to simply complete the ICC project since they heard rumours that there were many challenges regarding completion of the FISH aspect.
Gina responded ³7here is currently no activity in the Five Star Hotel because the ministry is still in a process to secure an operator to give guidance on the look and feel of the finishes, no budget has been allocated for this project for the next financial year. Whereas interior works in the convention centre are progressing very well.”
7he minister said the ministry had managed to make significant strides towards
foreign policy but it is the US 'epartment of State with such a mandate.
0eanwhile, when asked in $ugust if (swatini was an absolute monarchy, 'r 3etros 4ambukusa 0agagula, popularly known as 34, said there were a lot of things, based on the Constitution, which the .ing couldn’t do.
He answered the Tuestion by explaining that an absolute monarch is a ruler with no powers restricting him.
He said the supreme law, as it were, could make people assume that there were strict guidelines which the .ing followed.
THEORETICALLY
³It is provided in the Constitution that ‘this is what the .ing will do’ and this is what he cannot do. 7heoretically, there’s a lot that appears as if the .ing cannot do. 7he Tuestion is ‘'oes he follow the Constitution"” he asked.
³Can we challenge him in court for not following the Constitution"’
'r 0agagula said foreign political scholars who could be asked to analyse the situation in (swatini by only reading the Constitution might not understand why people were complaining about certain rights because the supreme law made provisions for them.
He explained that a Constitution was useless without a vibrant society which ensured its implementation. He said it was possible that the compiler of the US$I' report considered the rights enshrined in the Constitution, while the one who crafted previous documents on (swatini considered the ‘practice’. securing an operator for the hotel.
³'iscussions are at an advanced stage. Soliciting agreements are being reviewed by the attorney general with a view to advice government on the engagement terms,” he said.
0angcongco 03 2neboy =ikalala called upon the minister to give the committee a true picture of the status of the ICC FISH and what was preventing the ministry from taking a decision on utilising sections of the project which were already complete.
7he minister explained that the interior fit of the ICC were progressing well but the only challenge that the project faced was the cash flow from the government side, specifically not being able to pay the contractor on time.
2n using a portion of the project, he said ³It would not be feasible to use a portion/section of the completed areas of the project because of the manner in which the programme of the works are structured.”
DISALLOWED
1hlambeni 03 0an]i =wane raised a concern on the continuous pumping of money into the ICC FISH project yet the 03s who were supposed to play an oversight role were not allowed to visit the construction site to see the progress.
7o this, the minister said there was never a stage where they disallowed parliamentarians from touring the facility.
³$s a matter of fact, the ministry is currently coordinating a site tour for this project, the date of the tour will be confirmed in due course,” Gina said.
7he conclusion that the committee reached with regard to the ICC FISH project is that it is still a long way from being completed and will need major funding from government.
7he committee has recommended that the minister should appraise the House of $ssembly within 30 days after adoption of the committee’s report by the House regarding efforts to secure the operator for the FISH.
Further, the minister would be reTuired to submit, within the 30 days, a detailed breakdown or budget estimates on the costs reTuired to complete the entire project.