Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Mswati’s Government is highly expected to spend R450million constructing Hotel Villas for Very Important Persons(VIPs) including visiting Heads of State amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
This is contained in this year’s budget estimates but, apart from the shortage of drugs in public hospitals that resulted in the death of dozens of emaSwati, the country is facing other socio-economic challenges including non-availability or scarcity of scholarships for deserving University students and, the failure by Government to maintain roads in the rural areas among others.
Brian Sangweni, the Spokesperson of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said, the proposed project does not add value to the lives of the poor majority.
“The issue of the construction of villas meant to accommodate VIPs is very concerning more so because first and foremost the project is not in the interest of the poor majority whom we belief that their livelihoods should be a priority at this moment. This is just one of the vanity projects that will not add any social or economic value to the country and its people at a time where the cost of living is spiraling”, he said.
The PUDEMO Spokesperson said, any sane government faced with the prevailing economic conditions for its people would be expected to deploy resources into cushioning its people against the high costs of living effectuated by the increase on essentials which includes water, electricity and food to name a few.
“This shows that the government of the King Mswati does not care about Swazis.We are still decrying the decision to construct the ICC which we as well warned about as the movement that it was not in the interest of the people and true to that, it has not yielded anything for eMaswati while it has costed more than it was initially budgeted for. The villas will offer the same painful experience.It is another thing that the villas are targeting VIP clientele, we hardly have some visiting the country and clearly the royal family which has elevated itself to that status is constructing them for personal use. As an organization we condemn expenditures of this kind when most of our people are in dire need of essentials including medication in hospital. The country has more than enough facilities to accommodate VIPs,” said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.
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