Africa-Press – Eswatini. Senator Isaac Magagula says insufficient operational funds for security forces is a security risk, especially when security is greatly compromised.
He has commended the focus on the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) in the Supplementary Appropriation Bill. The Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg presented the Bill before senators at the House of Senate when Magagula made the remarks as part of his debate submissions.
The Supplementary Appropriation Bill is to the tune of E47 million and one of the major beneficiaries is the REPS, which is set to receive a recurrent expenditure of E115 688 508.
The senator said he had witnessed first-hand the repercussions of non-payment of utility bills within the security forces and this posed a huge security risk and further disturbed operations.
“This is one unit we cannot compromise on, more especially under the current political climate in the country,” he said.
Magagula argued that security forces have previously received insufficient funds for operational expenditure which had become a cause for concern.
“The conditions police work under are insufferable, which poses a security risk seeing as they have to be on high alert at all times and further be immediate in their service delivery. It is quite commendable that they have been given great consideration because they are an essential service,” he said.
This he said while making his submission during a debate before senators passed the Bill.
“We cannot economize on security, especially these days when the country is in a compromising position,” said Magagula.
He further wanted to find out from the Minister of Finance what the primary cause for insufficient funding of utilities within the security forces were.
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