Swazi Media Commentary: BILLS UNPAID: CARS OFF THE ROAD

Now it is the turn of the Swaziland Government’s Central Transport Administration (CTA) to fail to pay its bills.

The fallout from the Swazi Government’s mismanagement of the economy is seemingly seen everywhere in the kingdom – except, of course, in any of the Royal palaces.

News has leaked out that CTA (the government’s central garage) owes E79 million to suppliers. The government also owes E40 million to companies that hire it cars and other vehicles.

Government vehicles might not be able to run unless the bills are paid.

Ntuthuko Dlamini , Works and Transport Minister, told the Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland, his ministry was trying all it could to prevent a kingdom-wide standstill of government vehicles.

He said the suppliers sold spare parts, exhaust pumps, engines, wheels, brakes and all essential parts to government on credit.

Dlamini said all government machinery could be affected greatly because vehicles were needed by all ministries and departments.

‘We are talking about government cars here. All the ministries have cars and if the suppliers withdraw their services, all government machinery will be affected,’ he said.

Meanwhile, motor dealers leasing their vehicles to government ministries are owed about E40 million.

As a result, Dlamini says no ministry or department would be allowed to hire vehicles as from 31 December 2010.

He said vehicles leased from private entities should be returned to their owners on or before the deadline. He said there would be no car hired for the day-to-day government business.

Swazi Media Commentary

Monday, 13 December 2010

BILLS UNPAID: CARS OFF THE ROAD

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