Businessman
wants E800 000 from E50m Fund
By Sabelo
Mamba
Swazi Observer
28 June 2007
ANOTHER case involving the E50 million
Job Creation Fund has found its way to
the High Court,
where a businessman is demanding over
E800 000 in respect of training
services rendered to the community
under Maseyisini constituency in the
Shiselweni region. Sipho Shongwe, of
Swaziland Livestock Technical
Services, has since instructed
Mkhwanazi Attorneys to pursue the
matter on his behalf.
In a letter from Mkhwanazi
Attorneys, addressed to the Attorney
General’s office, he writes;
“We act for and on behalf of
Swaziland Livestock Technical
Services, hereinafter referred to as
our client. Our client instructs us
that it was awarded a tender by
government to offer training or
capacity building under the Maseyisini
Inkhundla.
Our client duly performed his
duties in terms of the agreement and
tendered its invoices to government
for payment. To date, our client has
not been paid for the services
rendered.
We are instructed, therefore, to
demand, as we hereby do, payment in
the sum of E886 400 to our offices
within 14 days, failing which, summons
will be issued against government
without further notice and at its own
costs.”
The law firm has already issued
summons against government and the
matter is pending at the High Court.
Not long ago, police arrested about
eight people, including civil
servants, for allegedly helping
themselves to the E50 million Capacity
Building Fund.
However, the High Court released
them on E15 000 bail each. During the
bail application, acting Director of
Public Prosecutions Mumcy Dlamini
obtained a court order to have their
bank accounts frozen and properties
attached, pending completion of police
investigations.
26 percent
HIV positive
by INNOCENT
MAPHALALA
Swazi Times
28 June 2007
MBABANE – More accurate figures of
the HIV prevalence rate in Swaziland
reveal that at least 26 percent of
those who are sexually active are
infected with the virus that causes
AIDS.
This was revealed
yesterday at the presentation of
findings of the 2006/07 Demographic
Health Survey (DHS).
Unlike the system used previously to
come up with figures outlining the
prevalence of HIV in the country,
the recent survey took samples that
represented the entire population.
It was, however, explained at the
presentation that while this new
figure may appear to be an
improvement, compared to the 39
percent reported in 2006, it did not
actually mean time to celebrate had
come.
Agencies involved in the exercise
categorically warned against
comparing the two, as they are not
only independent, but also
incomparable.
The 42.6 percent was the prevalence
rate among pregnant women visiting
antenatal care (ANC) clinics.
The 26 percent announced yesterday
was arrived at after an analysis of
statistics gathered during last
year’s survey, which drew samples
from figures representative of the
entire population.
It represents the prevalence rate
among the total population of people
aged from 15 to 49.
It was explained that persons aged
two and older were targeted for
testing.
It was further explained during the
presentation of the statistics that
testing was anonymous and the
results were not returned to
subjects.
The informed consent procedures,
similar to procedures used in
anaemia testing, was used.
A brochure had been provided to sub-jects,
explaining the testing procedure.
The subjects were advised that they
would not receive results, but were
provided with information on
Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)
sites if they wanted to know their
status.
People, who might feel the urge to
celebrate the lower figure given by
the last survey, should not forget
that Swaziland is still the country
with the highest rate of HIV
infection.
It was compared to 23 countries that
included South Africa, Lesotho,
Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, but
found to be still the country with
the highest infection rate.
Swaziland is closely followed by
Botswana and Lesotho at 24 percent,
respectively.
In Zambia and South Africa, the
infection rate among the
above-mentioned age group is 26
percent, while it is 12 percent in
Malawi.
Dagga
can be core of Swazi economy
By
Phila Dlamini
Swazi Observer
21 June 2007
MANZINI Regional Administrator
Prince Masitsela has said
there is an untapped potential
of dagga being the core of the
Swazi economy. The Prince made
these remarks when speaking at
the official opening of
Manzini region’s
mini-agricultural summit held
at
The Prince said he had been
tipped off on the potential of
dagga on several occasions
whilst abroad, especially in
Europe. “Lensangu yakini le
ingu-grade one (this dagga
from Swaziland is of the
highest quality). Lensangu
lifa lemaSwati (dagga is the
real Swazi gold),” he related.
He said since there were
difficulties with legalising
the herb renowned for causing
mental disturbances with some
users, government should
consider monopolising dagga
trade for itself, including
taking care of growing and
processing it as well as
exporting it to eager overseas
markets.
The Prince also suggested
that the dagga be grown and
processed locally into
medication for exportation. He
noted that the money generated
from its sale could then be
invested in subsidising the
entire agricultural industry.
The RA further noted that
all stable economies,
worldwide, had booming
agricultural sectors.
“Subsidisation can help the
country attain food security.
Thereafter, we can think of
selling the surplus,” he
suggested.
The Prince also urged
locals to venture into other
agricultural enterprises.
The debate about the herb’s
potential as a revenue spinner
to boost the country’s economy
dates back a few years. Even
though police have been
destroying dagga fields every
year, it is estimated that
about 70 percent of farmers in
the Hhohho region plant dagga
for a living. Most of them
have attributed this to
poverty.
Swazi dagga has found its
way not only to South Africa
but also into the European
market. In Johannesburg, for
example, it is called ‘Swazi
Gold’. It is also reported
that the whole African
continent finds dagga the most
lucrative cash crop. The herb
is usually smuggled into South
Africa and Mozambique for
shipment to Europe.
What is dagga?
It is a green plant-like
substance derived from the
dagga plant. The dagga plant
can be found in the form of a
bush and its size is dependent
on various factors, for
instance, the temperature in
which it grows, rainfall,
nutrients in the soil in which
it grows and some inherited
genes in the seeds that are
being used during the planting
process.
There is a wide variety in
sizes of the dagga plant. One
of its characteristics is the
leaf that can be found in the
form of a hand, which usually
consists of an uneven number
of leaves, usually five,
seven, nine or 11, situated on
the stem.
There are several street
names for dagga, including
marijuana, zol, skyf, joint,
weed, grass, s**t, pot, boom,
ganja, dope, hash, smoke, mary
jane, hemp and green gold.
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Woman bitten by
rabid pig
By MUSA NHLEKO
Swazi Times
21 June 2007
MANZINI – A 55-year-old woman has told how
she lost her appetite for pork after a pig
attacked and bit her.
It has since been
established that the woman was later
diagnosed to have been infected with rabies.
Sophie Zulu of Vusweni told this newspaper
that she stared death in the face after she
tried to scare the pig away with two stones,
and instead it charged towards her.
She said as she tried to move backwards, she
fell and the pig bit her on her right thigh.
Zulu said it chewed the chunk of flesh it
had bitten from her and she was forced to
flee into her house.
The woman is presently recuperating at the
Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital,
where she is also being treated for rabies.
She has also been diagnosed with rabies
after personnel from the Veterinary
Department visited her and requested the
hospital to give her the rabies vaccine.
Zulu said she used to like pork, but after
the incident it would take her time before
she ate pork again.
The incident happened last Thursday morning
when she returned home from a dipping tank
with her grandson.
She said when they arrived at their home,
they found a neighbour’s pig in her garden,
eating her sweet potatoes.
Luckily when the pig attacked her, her
grandson, who had told her that he was
afraid, had asked her to lock him in the
house.
The old woman said she was surprised how the
neighbour’s pig got into her garden as it is
fenced.
Zulu said although she had pigs, she could
tell that it was not one of hers as it was
big-ger.
“When I reached the safety of my house, I
started sweating and I called my children
who are in Manzini and one of my neighbours.
“They all came to help me.
“I also began vomiting and they took me to
Sigombeni Clinic, where I was helped by the
nurses before I was transferred to the RFM,”
said Zulu.
Zulu said this was the first incident in the
area.
The owners of the pig visited her at the
hospital.
The pig has not been killed as of yet as the
owners feel they should wait for Veterinary
personnel to do some tests on it.
Pharmacist
saves mamba bite victim
BY NIMROD MABUZA
Swazi Times
19 June 2007
MBABANE – A snakebite victim who was
lying and waiting for death at the
Mbabane Government Hospital’s Intensive
Care Unit after it had been discovered
that the biggest hospital in the country
was without an anti-venom vaccine, was
miraculously saved from death.
The quick action and
sacrifice by Mbabane Pharmacist John
Mirkin (popularly known as Mphandlana)
of Swazipharm, saved the life of a man
who had been bitten by a mamba snake.
Mirkin had to drive all the way to
Nelspruit and back with the drug known
as Polyvalent – a snakebite serum. The
drug is used for all poisonous
snakebites. The man’s identity has not
been established but it was disclosed
yesterday that he was unconscious when
the anti-venom drug was brought at the
hospital.
A source said the patient was admitted
in a serious condition at the hospital’s
ICU when it was discovered that the
snakebite serum was not available.
The doctor in-charge of the ICU, Dr
Nimrod Matekere, called Swazipharm, a
pharmaceutical company, which also did
not have the anti-snake bite in stock. A
pharmacist at Swazipharm called a clinic
in Nelspruit where the drug was secured.
As it was getting late, it was almost
impossible to have the drug in
Swaziland. Mirkins offered to drive to
Nelspruit at no cost to anybody. Mirkins
confirmed that he drove all the way to
Nelspruit and back.
He said all he wanted was to save a
life. According to him, he left
Swaziland at about 5:30pm and was back
shortly before 10pm. At Nelspruit, there
was no delay. He was given what he came
for and he was on the road back to
Swaziland. He got four vials of
snakebite serum.
“At about 9:30pm I was at the border on
my way back. I called Dr Matekere that I
had the snakebite serum. Shortly before
10pm I was at the hospital and I went
straight to the ICU and pushed the
medication through the door,” he said.
He said all he heard was the nurse who
said; “Thanks God you are here.” Mirkins
said it was his determination to save a
life that made him drive at high speed
to Nelspruit. It could not be
established if the victim was bitten by
the black or green mamba. The black
mamba is a highly venomous snake.
Besides saving the life of the snakebite
victim, Mirkin was also involved in
securing the 10 ampoules of
immunoglublin – an anti-rabies drug.
This was after Swazipharm had been
contacted by Dr Matekere to help secure
the drug.
Five children had been bitten by a child
who had been bitten by a dog diagnosed
with rabies. The child bitten by the dog
died before help could arrive but it has
been revealed that the child’s life was
already beyond saving.
UNISWA
EXAMS FACE NULLIFICATION
By
Hlengiwe Ndlovu
Swazi Observer
18 June 2007
IT can only happen in Swaziland,
and of course Iraq.
In an unprecedented move, there
are increasing fears that the
University of Swaziland (UNISWA)
Senate might decide to nullify
this year’s examinations following
suspicions of cheating by some
students.
So tense is the situation that
it could be mistakenly likened to
situations common in Iraq, where
however, examinations are often
disrupted by war violence, school
guards with AK-47 assault rifles,
gunfire and bullets flying. UNISWA
students sat for their
examinations last month and due to
previous cases where some were
found to have cheated, security
was beefed up this year.
Security
This resulted in security
cameras being installed in some
venues such as the Multi Purpose
Hall and marquee where a large
number of students sat for their
exams.
It was gathered that the
institution’s senate meets today,
amidst fears of possible
nullification of this academic
year’s exams due to suspicions of
foul play.
A sizable number of students at
the university were suspected to
have had a ‘copying’ field day
during the exams written about a
month ago.
It was alleged that some of
them actually brought into the
examination centres pre-written
scripts which were later
transferred onto the prescribed
answering sheets, somehow escaping
detection by both the cameras and
invigilators.
However, their antics seem to
have come back to haunt them as
reports revealed that lecturers
picked up certain anomalies and
subsequently, investigations were
instituted.
It must be noted that such
copying acts happened despite the
presence of state-of-the-art
cameras installed at the larger
examination centres for the very
reason of nipping such incidences
in the bud.
“Some of our colleagues have
the guts and nerve to copy inside
an exam room that has cameras,”
said one law student who preferred
to comment on basis of anonymity.
He went on to say there was a
belief among students that the
security cameras were actually
‘scarecrows’ merely put there to
scare the students off.
However, it was not clear what
could have created such a belief
amongst the students.
Scripts
Unconfirmed reports were that
in some faculties, students’
scripts were found with
suspiciously similar answers, thus
prompting investigations by the
institution’s administrators.
However, it could not be
ascertained whether all students
could be affected by the possible
nullification or whether it could
just be a particular faculty or
individual students found guilty
of committing such an offence.
Meanwhile, UNISWA Registrar
Sipho Vilakati refused to comment
when approached by this newspaper
on the allegations.
He referred all queries to his
deputy.
“Gama is the only person who
has the mandate to comment on such
issues,” he insisted, refusing to
entertain any further questions.
Shed
On the other hand, Deputy
Registrar - Corporate Affairs
Ambrose Gama said he could not
shed light on the issue, pending
senate’s meeting today.
“We cannot pre-empt the
meeting’s outcome as senate is yet
to discuss the issue,” he said.
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GOVERNMENT LOSES E50m... can't meet Global
Fund standards
By Njabulo Dlamini
Swazi Observer
18 June 2007
GOVERNMENT was recently forced to cough out
E50 million for the sustenance of
Anti-Retroviral therapy after the Global Fund
suspended an allocation to Swaziland due to
absence of a patient management system.
The Global Fund noted that despite its calls
for establishment of a management system for
ARVs, nothing had been done in that regard,
hence the suspension.
Seeing that patients on Anti-Retroviral
therapy might suffer, government purchased the
drugs, thus losing E50 million which could
have been the grant received from the
international body.
“It’s true we didn’t qualify for Round Six
(6) of the Global Fund allocation due to
technical reasons, but we are now busy with
Round Seven (7) preparations and have
reinstated the application,” National
Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA)
Director Derek von Wissell said.
He said the figure involved in the
application was in the region of E50 million,
but repeatedly stated that it was not like the
country had ‘missed out entirely’.
“All is not lost since we will reinstate
the application turned down by the Global Fund
and indications are that we might get the
funding required. To say we missed out is
rather too strong since a chance has been
availed under Round Seven to re-submit the
application.”
Asked on the specific reasons behind the
rejection of the application, von Wissell
strongly disputed that it was due to absence
of a patient management system as informers
alleged.
“The drug and management system is in place
and was rolled out as a pilot by the ministry
(of health). It is now ready for
implementation, I think by the end of the
month after being tested,” he said.
Von Wissell also confirmed that the country
had its grant suspended by the Global Fund,
but said this was reinstated in March this
year.
Thembi Nkambule, Swaziland National Network
of People Living with HIV and AIDS (SWANNEPHA)
Co-ordinator said she was not aware of the
matter since she had been away and only
returned to the country on Friday.
It is worth noting though that this is not
the first time Swaziland has been suspended
for failure to adhere to standards of the
Global Fund which demands a patient management
system on ARVs, amongst other things.
A well-placed source, whilst decrying the
E50 million spent by the cash-strapped
government to purchase the drugs, said it was
commendable since the worst might have
happened for patients on ARVs had such
expenditure not been undertaken.
Meanwhile, Health and Social Welfare
Minister Njabulo Mabuza said his ministry was
not formally appraised of developments on the
matter, but was aware an application to the
Global Fund had been submitted.
As for the patient management system, the
minister said this was in place and delays
were because the process had to be
inter-linked in between the regions so that
patients could access treatment and make
follow-ups from wherever rather than going to
far flung places.
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Hospital
treats over 15 dog bites a day
BY PHUMLILE SIMELANE Swazi Times
18 June 2007
MBABANE – Since the rabies outbreak was reported recently,
the Mbabane Government Hospital has had to attend to more
than 15 cases of dog bites a day.
According to reliable sources at the
hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD), each day they have
had to treat over 15 people who all come with fresh dog
bites.
The sources said the statistics were a sign that more rabies
cases could be expected.
The rabies outbreak was reported within the outskirts of
Mbabane and already a child has died due to the disease but
is yet to buried as the family had to postpone her burial
last week for a post mortem to be conducted.
Practising students at the hospital from the University of
Swaziland’s Faculty of Health and other health institutions
also confirmed that most of the people at the OPD had come
for vaccines related to dog bites.
“I was startled to hear most of the patients had come for
rabies related treatment after being bitten by dogs in
various areas within the capital,” said one of the students.
This state of affairs was also confirmed by the OPD staff,
who encouraged people to immediately come to the hospital
whenever they get bitten by a dog so as to get help on time.
Threat
However, the disease remains a threat to the public as it
has been reported that the South African suppliers have
issued out a memo stopping supply of the immunoglobillin,
which is vital for treating rabies when it has reached
symptomatic stages.
The hospital’s Manager Thoko Maseko, confirmed last week
that they only have the rabies anti-vaccine treatment taken
over a few days after diagnosis but lack immunoglobullin.
No immediate comment could be ascertained from the hospital
administration as they were reportedly locked in a meeting
for the better part of the day yesterday.
Dr Thembi Ndlangamandla of the Mbabane Vet Offices said more
and more cases were being reported daily from within and
around Mbabane.
“We get people from as far at Siphocosini who have been
bitten by dogs and suspect they might have rabies. We always
refer them to the hospital to get treatment immediately,”
said Dr Ndlangamandla.
On average the vet offices receive 20 cases per day and
sometimes the number is too high.
People are also urged to find treatment immediately to avoid
complications.
SMEs
into manufacturing
By Ackel Zwane
Swazi Observer
8 June 2007
A local crop of SMEs has ventured into manufacturing
by printing and producing sacks as well as other
packaging bags.
Directors of Pakisha Enterprises, trading as Taga
Investments, Thulani Matsebula and Sipho Nkosi service
the local market with a range of packaging bags
(sacks).
“We entered into a joint venture with Polypack to
take advantage of their machinery and expertise. We
get the orders for the manufacture of 50kg, 25kg, one
tonne bags and so on. Polypack, being a product of
Foreign Direct Investment, has no access to the market
except through Swazis. We took advantage of the
business opportunity,” said Matsebula.
Already Pakisha prints bags with company logos for
the local distributors of mainly animal feed and also
millers. Their plant is situated in Hhelehhele where
they also produce bags of different sizes. Swaziland
Investment Promotion Authority CEO Phiwa Ginindza said
this was one gigantic opportunity for SMEs to leap
forward and partner with FDIs.
He further said it was within SIPA portfolio to
promote such joint ventures and encourage the SMEs to
partner with a view of growing into full scale
manufacturing industrial giants.
Pakisha generally brings specifications to Polypack
to harvest the benefit of state of the art machinery.
Polypack produces and prints bags for such giants
as Lesotho Maize Mills, Yellow Grits, SA, SASOL -
Expan 300, Iwisa, Lomotek Polymers, Snowflake, Impala,
Easybake and many more. Polypack uses mainly oil based
raw material for the production of different varieties
of sack specifications. The production lines are
numerous including printing and packing.
Select Committee Members of Parliament for the
ministry of enterprise and employment were taken to a
conducted tour of all Ngwenya factories. Polypack is
the first and largest, with a 473 strong staffing
complement.
Enterprise Minister Lutfo Dlamini even noted that
it would be wise to get producers and distributors
from his constituency to print bags for their area and
products.
“It would make the product custom made and we would
consolidate our originality,” he said. Polypack sits
on a 25 000 square metre piece of land provided by
government. Government also provided the factory shell
together with infrastructure to the tune of E150
million. Polypack has so far invested E100 million.
Its operation capital that comes from local banks is a
paltry E400 000.
Minister Dlamini told the MPs during a briefing
after the tour that government had wanted investment
that relied less on water but such industry tends to
use more electricity, as is the case with Polypack.
Dlamini further said it was envisaged that all
other industries that supported their core business
would set up shop near the Ngwenya factory. Polypack
is the first factory there but others are yet to come
even though the space at Ngwenya Industrial Site has
all been taken.
Manufacturing requires huge capital investments
which the Swazi SME does not have in most times. It,
therefore, makes a lot of business sense to enter into
joint ventures with the FDIs.
Polypack products are found all over the world used
in packaging explosives, chemicals and so on.
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Mpheni Dlomo wins, weeps
By PHINDA SIHLONGONYANE
Swazi Times
8 June 2007
MBABANE – Senator and Businessman Mpheni Dlomo wept inside Court B
of the High Court after he won his landmark case against the Prime
Minister Themba Dlamini over the blacklisting of his companies. High
Court Judge Qinisile Mabuza yesterday ordered the setting aside of
the Cabinet resolution to blacklist senator Dlomo’s companies from
conducting dealings with government. This happened in April last
year. The companies in question are MPD Marketing and Supplies (PTY)
LTD, Supreme Emergency Vehicles, MPD Pharmaceuticals and Masimphe
Investments.
This means the companies will now be eligible to
tender for government projects.
Justice Mabuza has also ordered that government pays the costs of
the application with the certified costs of Counsel.
She said the court found that there was no legal and rational basis
for the existence of power by the Prime Minister and Cabinet in
taking the decision to blacklist the companies.
She said if Dlomo had fallen foul of the law and had committed a
crime, then he should be charged and tried accordingly.
In her 59 page judgement, Justice Mabuza said significant features
of what transpired at the meeting of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
of April 4 were that it purported to examine ‘evidence’ in the form
of reports of commissions of inquiry and purported to make a finding
of Dlomo’s guilty involvement in corrupt and, or irregular and
questionable conduct. She said to this extent, the action of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet had the hallmarks of the judicial
function, which was an unlawful act.
“Even if it had been an administrative action, it would have still
demanded the due and proper recognition and application of the rules
of natural justice, which did not happen,” she said.
Justice Mabuza said, according to Advocate Vetten who represented
government, references to several Commissions of Inquiry were
insufficient to satisfy the test that there was some reasonable
ground upon which the executive organ of government might express
itself. He said five reports of Commission of Inquiry and a Public
Accounts Committee report was more than sufficient to justify the
taking of the Cabinet decision.
“If such a decision may lawfully be taken. then it constitutes the
appropriate pursuit of a lawful measure to expose, combat and
eradicate corruption and abuse or misuse of power by those holding
political and other public offices as envisaged in section 58(5) of
the constitution,” she said.
Justice Mabuza said her finding was that the status of the various
reports by the Commissions of Inquiry was that the evidence therein
was hearsay and therefore inadmissible. She said the point of
convergence for all four reports was tendering the procurement
processes and focus was centralised on the Treasury Tender Board.
“All four commissions in one way or another made recommendations for
a stronger control, transformation and transparency of the tendering
process. These companies that continuously failed in their bids
should know how their competitors continuously succeeded,” she said.
She said it was also felt that the personnel at the Treasury Tender
Board and key positions in government should not be manned by the
same people for long periods. She said they should be rotated as
this the commissions felt would curb irregular activities. Advocate
Wise, who was instructed by attorney Kenneth Motsa, represented MPD,
while Advocate D. Vetten, who was represented by Attorney John
Magagula, represented government.
'FISH 'N CHIPS'
INVESTORS OUT!
By Musa Ndlangamandla
Swazi Observer
6 June 2007
GOVERNMENT has issued a strong appeal to members of
parliament, business, labour and civic groups to assist in a
major thrust campaign to ‘flush’ out bogus investors from the
country.
Minister of Enterprise and Employment Lutfo Dlamini said he
needed everyone’s backing and a strong united front to stem
the tide. He said government’s efforts to deal squarely with
the influx in September 2006 failed because of lack of support
from stakeholders.
The ‘fish ‘n chips’ investors are said to flock the country
in droves to usurp investment opportunities from Swazis by
engaging in even the smallest businesses concerns.
Unfair competition
“Some come from their countries with nothing more than
briefcases, open tin roof grocery stores under candlelight in
the townships, operate spaza shops, socks selling concerns and
‘fish and chips shops. This is unfair competition to the
locals. How can we as a country allow someone to come from
overseas, bring wife, children, brothers and sisters only to
fry chips in the country,” wondered one of the participants in
a highly charged meeting between a group of Nhlangano
businessmen, a five-men parliamentary select committee, the
Minister of Enterprise and Employment Lutfo Dlamini and the
Swaziland Investment Promotions Authority (SIPA).
Former MP Anthony Roberts wondered if government had a
clear policy to screen people who come to the country posing
as investors.
“We want partnerships, we want new money and we need
investors in the country. But, such should not attract all
sorts of characters that will end up putting Swazis in a
disadvantaged position. We need someone to add value to the
country,” he said.
Roberts lamented that the ‘bogus’ investors were a cartel
that bought in bulk and completely pushed out indigenous Swazi
businesses from competition. “I have had to close down one of
my businesses because I could not compete in such a chaotic
situation,” he said.
Another businessman Rose said it was important that when
the country tries to find Foreign Direct Investment the
industry should have set standards and should be properly
regulated to avoid ‘bogus’ investors.
Sabelo Mabuza, SIPA Director - Investment Facilitation and
Aftercare, said his organisation was strict on the kind of
investor to operate in the country. He added though that their
efforts were somewhat hampered by the fact that the country
was still working on its investment policy. “We look at the
extent of capital investment this person is coming with. We
also consider job creation in the process. Not only that,
wealth creation plays a vital role in the decision as we look
to see whether there will be positive spin-offs, not just for
government and the investors, but the community as a whole,”
Mabuza said. Minister Dlamini however came down hard on the
business people for their tendency to complain without taking
appropriate action. He said government had a solid definition
of an investor, arguing that the increase in the
‘rent-a-Swazi’ syndrome was what caused the influx.
“There is too much talk and no action. I have been insulted
by people who say these people are mine. I have never
recommended a ‘bogus’ investor to government for a licence. It
is you who bring these people, give them your licences to
operate these backstreet shops and spazas. A majority of the
so called ‘bogus’ investors have the backing and support of
yourselves,” Dlamini said.
He also cautioned Swazi businesspeople to guard against
jealousy and to work together.
“If you notice the people you are complaining about you
will find that they support one another. If you do not find a
pencil at X’s shop, X will not send you away, but will direct
you to his brother Y’s shop to get it. That never happens with
you. You would rather have someone open an account far off
than to support a business colleague in your area,” Dlamini
said. He added that such jealousy and ‘push-and -shove’
syndrome was not confined to business people, but other
sectors suffered from such a malady too.
Insults
“Even in politics tiyagudlulana kodvwa sitsi sisebentela
isystem yinye. We say we work for the system but we are busy
pulling one another down. There shall be no success for Swazis
if we continue to work like this,” Dlamini said.
He said he has been insulted before when he insisted that
there should be a bias towards Swazis in some of the
businesses. “You need to back me up. these people are your
friends and you help them for personal gain,” he lamented.
Minister Dlamini added that the law allowed the business
people to object to the setting up of a business which they
suspect could jeopardise Swazi interests. “You must use your
rights. You must participate fully in these processes,”
Minister Dlamini said.
Dlamini added that when he pushed for the changes in 2006
he was insulted by some people who said he would kill
business.
“They insulted me when I said there should be a bias
towards Swazis concerning some businesses. They said the car
washing business idea was brought to the country by certain
nationals and that we could not then restrict this to Swazis.
I said what type of a country would import people to wash
cars. What does it take to wash cars? What type of a country
would import people to come and cut keys? You need to support
me on the need to protect Swazi business. We need to solve
this issue and we need a national effort to do that,” Minister
Dlamini said. Sabelo Mabuza, SIPA Director - Investor
Facilitation and Aftercare, confirmed that most often than no,
it is the Swazis who collude with the so-called ‘bogus’
investors by giving them licences and helping them start the
businesses in Swaziland. |
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