Africa-Press – Eswatini. Jeremy Liang, the Taiwan Ambassador has donated Ambulances to the Correctional Services as a token of appreciation shortly after the Chinese Province secured a R5.2billion Strategic Oil Reserve project in eSwatini.
The project that was vigorously opposed by Members of Parliament(MPs) after information emerged suggesting that, another company had agreed to construct the Strategic Oil Reserve for R2.2billion, was awarded to Taiwan allegedly,by King Mswati.
Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson when responding earlier clarified that, “there’s nothing wrong” with Taiwan taking over the project.
“We are aware of the project in question.We want to believe the King was sufficiently informed about its logistics,including the tender awarding process which is normally done away from the Head of State.It could have been a company from another country,but this time,it\’s a Taiwanese contractor.We have no reasons to suspect there could be problems with that”, said the King Spokesperson.
But Jeremy Liang, the Taiwan Ambassador when handing over the donation said “this generosity comes as a result of the warm diplomatic relations between eSwatini and Taiwan adding that, the donation will assist the Department of Correctional Services provide health-care services to inmates.
“This donation is far more than a transfer of vehicles-it is a testament of the shred vision of our two Nations; to elevate the quality of healthcare within correctional facilities”, said the Taiwan Ambassador.
It has been previously reported that, last month during a workshop for Members of Parliament(MPs) held in Pigg’s Peak, Nhlanhla Dlamini, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Eswatini National Petroleum Company told the MPs that, Taiwan was seeking to take over the project despite the fact that, as Board and Management, they have identified a company that agreed to construct the Oil Reserves with R2.2billion.
“Government is engaging Taiwan on the same project and as the situation stands, we have two(2) prices R2.2billion and R5.2billion”, said the Chief Executive Officer.
Nkomiyahlaba MP Mduduzi Dlamini urged MPs to vigorously prevent Taiwan from taking over the project to protect public funds.
“As MPs,we must do what is best for emaSwati not a few individuals”, he said.
Other MPs expressed concern that, a company from Taiwan will walk away with R5.2billion public funds when there’s another company that was engaged for the same project at R2.2billion.
But the MPs who are opposed to Taiwan might find themselves clashing with a command issued by Mswati, the King ordered Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhokhela to ensure that a contract “is urgently signed with a Taiwan company” for the Strategic Oil Reserves project.
This was during the recent Eswatini International Trade Fair(EIFT) after the Natural Resources Minister informed the King that, a contract will soon be signed with Taiwan for the said project, the King was touring Trade Fair Stands when he made the order directing Government to speed-up the signing of the contract with Taiwan.
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