MBABANE: Majozi Sithole, the then Minister of Finance warned the Nation that the country was losing R40million per month to corruption, the figure later escalated to R80million.
Sithole, now the Central Bank Governor was speaking inside Parliament, however, former Prime Minister and Mswati’s trusted ally Absalom Themba Dlamini disputed the sentiments that were later proven to be true.
Responding to a questionnaire from this journalist who was writing for the now defunct Swaziland Shopping, the Central Bank Governor said he received the information through the banking system that tracked the flow of monies in the country.
Reached for comments,Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni confirmed that he was in Parliament when Minister Majozi Sithole revealed that the country was losing R40million per month to corruption.
“I can confirm that I was in Parliament when Minister Majozi Sithole revealed that the country was losing R40million per month to corruption”, said the MP.
Subsequent to the Minister’s statement, around 2006, businessman Walter Bennett when interviewed by Bongani Dlamini in the Swazi TV “Face the Nation” program warned that if corruption was not dealt with accordingly, there would come a time when Swazis would be heavily taxed.
Recently, Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg announced an increase of Pay as You Earn(PAYE) from 33 to 36%. Swazis also pay the 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) including 27.5% Corporate Tax for companies and or legal personas.
Central Bank Governor Majozi Sithole.