Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has been found by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be extravagant in their expenditure which resulted in the purchase of equipment valued at E2.2 million which was unused during the 2023 General Elections.
The unused equipment was 360 floodlights, four PA systems, 400 desk pads, and 960 indelible markers.
The most bizarre expenditure, which raised the ire of PAC members, was E736,000 towards the payment of several Public Address (PA) systems.
The PAC members could not comprehend how the commission purchased four PA systems for E736,000 only to remain idle when the funds could have been used for other purposes, which could have meant value for money for EBC.
The price of the PA system, which was calculated by PAC to translate to E184,000 for each of the systems that were not utilised during the 2023 General Elections, was also questioned.
The concern by PAC that the PA system seemed to be pricey was based on another invoice from Destiny Music, where the same system had been charged E22,700.
Bonginkosi Dube, Phondo MP, said, “Why did EBC spend E736 000 on a PA system. Maybe it was a question of being given too much money, that is why they find themselves having spent E2 million on goods which were then stored.”
The Ludzeludze MP, Nomkhosi Masuku, said it was good to buy extra in case of emergencies.
“It was good to buy extra, but EBC did too much in this instance to the extent that it raises the question of whether there were ulterior motives,” Masuku said.
Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula warned that the unused items could be stolen.
“I recommend that unused equipment be reallocated to another department so that value for money could be realised,” said Matsebula.
PAC Clerk Arthur Mordaunt, Vice Chairperson Manzi Zwane and Auditor General Timothy Matsebula during the session
The Controlling Officer, EBC Head of Secretariat Khombisile Dlamini, explained that the items had been purchased for intended use during the general elections.
For instance, she said the 360 floodlights, which were purchased for E825, 930, were intended to be used in the case of power outages at the polling stations.
“We will continue to use them in the future. Fortunately, the lights never went out, but we had planned for the worst-case scenario.
There was one floodlight allocated to each of the polling stations countrywide,” Dlamini explained.
The PAC Vice-Chairperson and Nhlambeni MP, Manzi Zwane, said, “Are you telling PAC that you bought items, only to be kept? We do not understand that you are saying the items bought will be kept until 2028 when the next elections will be held?”.
Dlamini responded, “We need the PA system and already use it when we do the community visits. No money has been lost, we will use the items since they are not perishable.”
The Head of the Secretariat said they anticipated that there could be by-elections where they would utilise the items that ended up not being put into use during the past elections.
Sandile Nxumalo, Somntongo MP, said it was fortunate that the lights never went out during the elections, hence the floodlights ended up not being utilised.
“We are glad that EBC was on guard to ensure that the situation where we used candles in the past to provide lighting when counting votes, which does not paint a very good about the country’s elections.
This is the blood and sweat of Emaswati, which they pay as taxes; you cannot be extravagant in your expenditure. We must not spend willy-nilly,” he advised.
Magesi Dlamini, Gege MP, advised that the goods must be stored in a place where they would not depreciate.
The Kubuta MP, Masiphula Mamba, Kubuta MP asked what the rationale had been behind purchasing goods when they were not needed.
“I am worried about the planning department because E2 million is a large amount of money, which could have been used for other essential needs,” Mamba said.
PAC wants EBC officers to pay for lost election equipment
The Public Accounts Committee has hinted at the possibility of ordering officers responsible for the lost election equipment to pay from their own pockets.
This submission was made by PAC Vice-Chairperson Manzi Zwane after the Auditor General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, informed the PAC that a Yamaha generator valued at E36,223 and a microphone.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo inquired where the equipment had been bought.
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