By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE: Dubai cars that were previously affordable to ordinary Swazis are now expensive, Member of Parliament(MP) Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane who tried to challenge Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg’s policy was removed.

Eswatini is a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern African with about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, some were using the import cars to do business in the transport industry in order  to earn a living.

It has been disclosed that the cheapest import car, a Mazda Demio that previously cost around R40,000.00, now trades at R75,000.00.

This comes after Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg issued a policy in 2020 banning the importation of cars older than seven(7) years, these cars were afforded by Swazis who earned salaries as low as R 2,500.00 per month.

Speaking to this publication, Muhammad Arslan , an import car dealer based in Matsapha said about 98% of the import car dealerships were closing shop since the cars were expensive for the Swazis.

"These cars are now expensive, we used to pay about R 8,000.00 as tax, now we are paying between R 25,000.00and R 50,000.00. The cheapest car is now R 75,000. 00 but before they used to sell as low as R 29,000.00 .Most dealerships are closing since business is slow,the Ministry of Finance is also frustrating us by refusing with import permits”, said the businessman.

Neal Rijikernberg, the Minister of Finance had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report. 

Bheki Mamba, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland  (TUCOSWA) said Government was only worsening the situation of the poor workers who cannot afford brand new cars.

“All we need is a rolling mass action that will ensure that all the hard conditions for workers are removed", said the TUCOSWA President. 

Reached for comments, MP Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane, the then Siphofaneni MP now the President of the Swaziland Liberation Movement  (SWALIMO ) said this has always been the agenda of the capitalists. 

"I saw it coming, I told Neal and the Nation. Many have lost jobs,many do not afford cars,many can’t do business as there is no ease of doing business. The country is going for the dogs under the mafia leadership style”, he said.