Swazi Media Commentary: Mbingo Mbongeni

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Thursday, 22 October 2020

Swaziland editor suspended after alleged link to political party opposing absolute monarch

Mbongeni Mbingo, the managing editor of the eSwatini Observer group of newspapers, has reportedly been suspended from duty following a report that he and others had started a political party to oppose King Mswati III, the absolute monarch in Swaziland (eSwatini).

The Observer is in effect owned by the king.

The Times of eSwatini reported on Thursday (22 October 2020) that unofficial sources at the newspaper had confirmed they had been told at a meeting Mbingo had been suspended with immediate effect. No reason was given. Observer chief executive officer Sipho Mkhonta declined to comment.

The Swaziland News, an online newspaper, reported that Mbingo had been suspended as a result of a report it had published on Sunday 18 October 2020 that alleged Mbingo was ‘linked to a new “underground” political party Vuka Sive that seeks to influence regime change and overthrow King Mswati.’

Mbongeni Mbingo, the managing editor of the eSwatini Observer. Picture sourced from Facebook

Thursday, 29 March 2018

SWAZI KING’S BIRTHDAY CASH ‘LOOTED’

One of King Mswati’s most prominent lieutenants in Swaziland has said money intended for his birthday celebration in April is being ‘looted’.

Mbongeni Mbingo, the editor-in-chief of the Swazi Observer group, newspapers in effect owned by the King, said, ‘We all know that long before this event takes place, there are people who have already secured the bidding for the tenders and most of the money isn’t going to be spent on where it should.’

The equivalent of millions of US dollars will be spent on the so-called 50/50 celebrations to mark the King’s 50^th birthday and the 50^th anniversary of Independence from Great Britain. King Mswati rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Writing in the Sunday Observer (25 March 2018), Mbingo said, ‘It is inevitable that this country would want to celebrate such milestones and as such we have to accept that no matter our fiscal situation, this was going to happen.’

Swaziland is broke and Finance Minister Martin Dlamini in his budget speech on 1 March 2018 said the government would only spend on ‘the most critical expenditure items’ this year. He acknowledged, ‘Government sending continues to outpace its ability to raise enough revenues resulting in cash flow challenges and accumulation of arrears.’

In his speech opening Parliament in February 2018 the King commanded his government, ‘to prepare a budget that is based on available resources’. Dlamini said, ‘Government has conducted a thorough analysis of our expenditure in order to prioritise only the most pressing concerns.’

Already, the Swazi Government is to pay US$7.5 million for a fleet of luxury BMW cars to transport dignitaries on the day. The cost of the cars alone bust the US$1.7 million budget the government allowed itself for the festivities. The 50/50 celebration lasts one day – 19 April 2018.

E1 million (US$86,000) intended for retirement funds and to help the disabled has been transferred from the Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF) to help pay for the 50/50 celebrations. All police officers and soldiers in the kingdom have had money deducted from their salaries to contribute. Businesses have also been asked to donate.

Mbingo wrote, Swaziland owed ‘it to ourselves to celebrate this kind of milestone’.

He added, ‘But, does this mean all the extravagance we are about to witness; the new cars; the uncontrollable expenditure; and the looting that is taking place already? We all know that long before this event takes place, there are people who have already secured the bidding for the tenders and most of the money isn’t going to be spent on where it should.’

He added, ‘The money is about to, if not already, find its way to corruption, and sheer extravagance is about to be displayed.’

Ten years ago in 2008 Swaziland held 40/40 celebrations. The cost overran by E32.6 million (about US$5 million at the then exchange rate). E17 million was budgeted but it ended up costing ‘at least’ E50.2 million. The exact figure is uncertain.

The budget overrun was revealed in the ‘Comprehensive Project Completion Report’ (CPCR), written by Luke Mswane, chair of the double celebrations committee that oversaw the 40/40 celebration that took place on one day – 6 September 2008.

The CPCR highlighted a catalogue of mismanagement. Next to no time was made available to set a proper budget for the events and it became impossible to keep track of the money. At least E1.8 million was spent on capital projects without any formal written authority.

The CPCR also stated that E500,000 was budgeted for labour costs, but overtime paid to civil servants amounted to E5 million.

Tellingly, since the world was led to believe that King Mswati’s joy at his 40th birthday and the independence anniversary was shared by his subjects, the CPCR report stated that there was actually a lack of interest in the event and it was impossible to attract sponsors. They had expected sponsors to pay E0.8 million but in fact only E104,000 was given.

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

HOSTILE REACTION TO VAT INCREASE

The announcement by Swaziland Finance Minister Martin Dlamini that Value Added Tax is to rise by 1 percent to 15 percent to put it in line with neighbour and major trading partner South Africa has been criticised throughout the kingdom.

South Africa made the change last month (February 2018).

Dlamini said in his budget speech on Thursday (1 March 2018) he also wanted to find a legal way of putting VAT on electricity charges. Electricity tariffs are already set to rise by 15 percent on 1 April 2018.

The VAT increase will affect people especially the poorest, commentators in Swaziland said.

When the South African Treasury announced its increase in VAT it also announced measures to mitigate the impact of the VAT increase on poor households with above inflation increases in social grants, partial relief for inflation for the bottom three personal income tax brackets (for people who do not receive social grants), a marginal increase in the tax credits for medical aid contributions and maintaining the 19 zero-rated food items.

Swaziland’s Finance Minister made no concessions. Dlamini also announced additional taxation on alcohol and tobacco products. There are also plans to increase the fuel tax rate by 20 cents from the current E3 and a review of user fees for mobile phones.

Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) Deputy Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga said, ‘The cost of living as we speak is too high for the working class and such hikes are hard hitting and we are not happy with what was announced by the minister.’

Federation of Swaziland Business Community (FESBC) Chief Executive Officer Dudu Nhlengethwa was against the increase and said businesses had not been consulted.

The Times Sunday newspaper in Swaziland reported (4 March 2018) that the Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC) was against imposing VAT on its charges. The newspaper quoted SEC Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Sifiso Dhlamini saying, ‘Disposable income for the customer has not increased but is still the same, so there will be an erosion of their purchasing power if VAT will be added on electricity.’

Interviewed by the Swazi Observer newspaper Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA) Commissioner General, Dumsani Masilela said the increase was rare and inevitable. The Observer reported, ‘He said it was inevitable because Swaziland had in the past traditionally been aligned with South Africa where VAT is concerned due to structural issues which make it hard for Swaziland to act unilaterally.’ He added that the SRA had made extensive consultations on the VAT issue.

The Editor of the Observer on Saturday Alec Lushaba, writing in his own newspaper, said the increase in VAT meant, ‘that certain goods and services which are normally accessible to ordinary members of the society, in particular the poor, will no longer be available’. He added that social grants (pensions) for people aged 60 or over had not been increased in the budget.

Swazi Observer Group Managing Editor Mbongeni Mbingo, writing in the Sunday Observer, (4 March 2018) said the increase in VAT did not consider, ‘what the implication and impact really is going to be for an economy that already is on its knees and obviously, with so much unemployment’.

He added, ‘But, this electricity hike and the decision to impose VAT on it shows Cabinet’s fragrant disregard for the situation on the ground.’

Sifiso Sibandze, writing in the Times Sunday, (4 March 2018) said, ‘The long and short of it is, the budget was meant to further disadvantage the already disadvantaged – the poor. It is a budget that will make the poor poorer. Through the budget, government was legitimising his intention of pick-pocketing the poor.’

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