By Musa Mdluli

MALANTI:Madala Mhlanga,the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the  Public Accounts Committee(PAC) led a team of Members of Parliament(MPs) on Monday who went to Malanti in the Hhohho region to inspect a Dam that was queried by Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula in his reports.

This comes after Government allegedly allocated R5.8million for a Dam that was never constructed, the Auditor General who uncovered this alleged corruption was also present during the inspection conducted by the PAC as part of the ongoing investigation.

The PAC, a public accountability wing of Parliament that works with the Office of the AG, is highly expected to submit a report to be debated by House of Assembly.

But Patrick Dlamini,the Land Development Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture who also present during the inspection, told the PAC members that, the construction of the Malanti Dam was ongoing.

But the MPs were not convinced as the project that was meant to assist residents venture in farming, was to commence in 2017 and almost ten(10) years later, the Dam hasn’t been completed despite the fact that, a payment was made by Government.

Bongnkosi Dlamini, the Phondo Member of Parliament(MPs) and member of the PAC, suggested that the matter must be reported to the police.

“This matter must be reported to the police”, said the visibly shocked MP who was also inspecting the site where the Dam was to be constructed.

Nhlambeni MP and PAC Vice Chairman Manzi Zwane demanded answers when will the Dam be completed but, the Project Manager and Land Management Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture clarified that, it will be completed by March next year.

But while Dlamini was responding, Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo interjected saying,it cannot be possible to have the Dam completed next year.

“It cannot be possible, this project has been neglected for many years while public funds were looted. How can people who failed to construct this Dam for many years, complete the project in a few months?. It cannot be possible”, said the Somntongo MP.