Reappointment of ministers saves over E1m
MBABANE – The reappointment of about 10 Cabinet ministers, who were part of the previous government has saved government from spending around E1 million.
Had the 10 ministers not been reappointed, government would have spent money, which is approximately E1 140 692.89 in payment of what is known as settling-in allowance.
The allowance is provided for in Finance Circular No.2 of 2023, which dictates the terms and conditions of service for parliamentarians, designated office bearers of the 12th Parliament and the Attorney General.
The new Cabinet ministers were announced on Monday by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini.
Those who are making a return include Thulisile Dladla who is now the Deputy Prime Minister, Neal Rijkenberg who returned to the Ministry of Finance, Manqoba Khumalo who is back at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade and Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwadwe in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Also making a return is former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu who is now leading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Princess Lindiwe who returned to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Phila Buthelezi who is back at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
PREVIOUS
The rest are Maphalaleni MP Mabulala Maseko, who is back at the Ministry of Public Service and Prince Simelane who is now Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs after being in the hot seat at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in the previous Cabinet.
Also on the list of returnees is Lubulini Member of Parliament Dr Tambo Gina, who is back at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.
Meanwhile, the circular stipulates that parliamentarians, designated office bearers and the attorney general (AG) receive a range of benefits and allowances.
The benefits are not uniform, but have been developed considering the role, status, duties, functions and responsibilities.
The remuneration framework has also considered the affordability of the different levels of remuneration of the political office bearers and the AG.
A benchmarking exercise was undertaken to understand what obtains in the region, the civil service, parastatals and private sector companies.
Regarding the settling-in allowance, the circular states that its purpose is to enable the presiding officers, ministers, deputy presiding officers, MPs and the regional administrators to cover the relocation expenses from their home base in Eswatini to their seats of office in Eswatini.
PRESIDING
“A once-off settling-in allowance will be payable to presiding officers, ministers, deputy presiding officers, MPs and regional administrators. The allowance will be equal to one month’s basic pay payable up front. This is a once-off allowance and will not be payable to re-elected and or reappointed members,” reads part of the circular.
When looking at the payment structure, each of about nine of the 10 returning ministers were to receive about E72 348.55 as settling-in allowance.
The DPM, however, was to get about E80 916.08, as her one month’s basic salary is much higher than that of the ministers. In total, about E876 750.13 was to be spent on the nine ministers and the DPM had they not been reappointed into Cabinet. Besides the Cabinet ministers, it is also expected that government will not pay the settling-in allowance to the two Senate presiding officers.
These are the Senate President, Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini and her Deputy Ndumiso Mdluli as both of them are returnees having held the same reigns in the previous Parliament.
Had there been new faces, government would have been obliged to spend about E72 348.55 on the Senate president and E59 622.33 on Mdluli. On another note, the circular stipulates that upon taking office, the relocation expenses incurred by the PM and DPM (including their families) on assumption of office for relocation from their home base to the seats of office, whether to a government-owned residence or private residence to be occupied for official purposes, will be paid by government.
PROCEDURES
The costs for the relocation expenses are to be determined in line with government procurement procedures.
It is also stipulated that tindvuna tetinkhundla and bucopho are not entitled to a settling-in allowance. In terms of background, the circular was enacted by the Royal Commission led by Standard Back Chief Executive (CE) Mvuselelo Fakudze.
The commission stated that it has been developed at a time when the country was faced with a combination of domestic, regional and global challenges.
However, the commission said due care had been taken to ensure that the remuneration framework, as developed, recognised that it was important to appoint into political office competent nationals so that the country could benefit from their expertise in pursuit of its development and growth agenda.
“The framework also recognises that a career in politics is a calling and a privilege, therefore, while it is important to pay competitive salaries in recognition of their skills and competencies, it is equally important to balance this against what the country can afford,” the commission said in its report.