By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) said Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini uttered an outright lie to the United Nations (UN) by claiming part of the country’s budget was used to fight COVID-19.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Friday, the PUDEMO Secretary said government was misleading the world with the intention of using the poverty and sufferings of eMaswati including the COVID-19 crisis to cash more millions from international donors. He said since the pandemic started, there was no tangible evidence substantiating that government distributed food to the people and working equipment for health workers. 

“The truth of the matter is that the money that the Prime Minister claimed was used on COVID-19 cannot be accounted for, no distribution of food to the people since the crisis started and health workers are complaining about lack of working equipment. The President of the nurses union has been consistently mentioning that as the situation stands, about 35 health workers tested positive due to lack of Personal Protective Clothing (PPEs). The situation suggests that there are no ventilators and the only equipment that sustained us so far came through donations. These donations were from Jack Ma(Mainland China), Taiwan, a French company established the testing laboratory, the US and Nathie Kirsh among others” he said.

The PUDEMO Secretary wondered where the money collected from citizens through taxes go as the PM had previously promised that a budget of the King’s birthday will be used to fight the COVID-19.

“COVID - 19 came at a time when the kingdom is continuing with the fight against HIV, malaria and TB. These have caused a big strain on our national budget. As we address the issue of COVID 19, the country has been following all the guidelines of the World Health Organisation” the PM said on behalf of the King.

Acting Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini avoided questions when asked to respond on the matter.

Dludlu urged eMaswati to united against the regime saying the power to liberate this country from the hands of oppressors remains in the hands of the citizens. He said members of the public should not expect much from the regime saying the main objective of the government was not centered around improving the lives of the citizen but to fund the extravagant lifestyle of King Mswati and the royal family.