By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Makhosi Simelane, the Acting Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has written a letter, directing all Chief Executive Officers(CEOs) of the Town Councils to pay the newly elected and appointed Councillors allowances, pending the release of a Government Gazette confirming them in terms of the law.

The allowances, as per the letter, would be received by Councillors who will attend an orientation workshop from 16th to the 18th July 2023 at eSibayeni Lodge-Matsapha.

“Please note that the appointment & election of the new Councillors is yet to be completed once all necessary formalities as provided by the Act are done, which includes acceptance of office and gazetting of the new Councillors. To this end, they are still not subject to formal remuneration; that is the condition of service for Councilors do not apply to them until formalities are concluded. All local authorities are however authorized to allocate the new councilors or Board Members elect a stipend equivalent to the sitting and sleep out allowances for the outgoing Councilors and Board Members.This shall only apply to those who will attend the orientation workshop,” reads  the letter in part, signed by the Acting PS.

When asked by this Swaziland News to clarify, if directing the Municipalities to pay allowances to the un-gazetted Councilors won’t result to audit queries,the Acting PS said, expenditure “is governed by laws and regulations” that should be followed at all times, and where such has been done, no queries on audit can be found.

“Good evening Dlamini. I will not ask how you got this internal communication document as it was addressed to Municipalities.However, all expenditure is governed by laws and regulations which should be followed at all times, and where such has been done, no queries on audit can be found out because there would not have been any procedural flout,” said the Acting Principal Secretary(PS).