MBABANE:Savannah Maziya,the independent minded Minister of Information,Communication and Technology(ICT) has become the only Minister in Cabinet who vigorously opposed a proposal to spend about R50million purchasing Lexus cars for Cabinet Ministers.
This was during a recent meeting where Cabinet chaired by Russell Mmiso Dlamini, was allegedly discussing the welfare of Ministers, eSwatini has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, no jobs and scholarships for University students, the country is also struggling with a collapsed health and education system.
Public funds are squandered by public officials with the government relying heavily on international donors like the European Union(EU) to fund social program like Free Primary Education(FPE) and other development projects.
Alpheous Nxumalo,the Government Spokesperson declined to comment about the matter.
It has been reported that kidney failure patients are dying at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial(RFM) amid shortage of drugs and a dialysis machinery.
Cabinet sources who were allegedly part of the meeting told this publication that,the ICT Minister became the only one who opposed the decision to buy the luxurious cars.
The ongoing extravagant spending by Cabinet comes amid rampant corruption that resulted to the collapse of critical State institutions like the health system, resulting to the death of hundreds of patients amid shortage of drugs in hospitals.
“Cabinet might soon buy Lexus 4x4 cars for Ministers and Minister Savannah is against that, she stated that emaSwati are living in poverty”,said the source whose information was also verified from other independent sources.
Efforts to seek a comment from the Minister proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
On another note,Mayibongwe Masangwane,the Secretary General(SG) of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union(SWADNU) confirmed to this publication earlier that,public hospitals are still struggling without drugs and working equipment.
The Nurses Union Secretary General(SG) further confirmed that the RFM hospital was operating without a dialysis machine.
“I’ve confirmed and discovered that it’s true.The information I received suggests that it’s been a long time since the hospital operated without the dialysis machinery, patients were previously reffered to Mbabane Government Hospital but seemingly, there’s now a problem with Mbabane in exchanging the working equipment.So yes, there’s no dialysis machine at RFM Hospital”,said the Nurses Union Secretary General(SG).
Eswatini is in the midst of a health crisis amid looting and/or rampant corruption within the Ministry of Health,the Funduzi Forensic Services report exposed how SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff and other suppliers allegedly looted over R1billion public funds resulting to the health crisis.
Lexus(pic: Internet).