MBABANE – Delays in the ICC-FISH construction caused by budget constraints cost the taxpayer E10 million in monthly penalties. Due to the delays caused by cash flow challenges, government is said to have lost over E40 million on delay damages or liquidated damages for the International Convention Centre and Five-Star Hotel (ICC-FISH). The construction of the ICC-FISH, which has cost around E8 billion, continues to take from the taxpayer despite government’s promise that the millennium project will be completed this year. Despite the commitment to make the ICC/FISH completion a priority, which included allocating a budget enough for the remaining work, contractors have abandoned the site from time, to time due to government’s failure to pay them on time. Penalties The taxpayer is now forking out around E10 million per month in penalties to the contractors on the site. This has prolonged the completion period of the project, which has...

MBABANE – In yet another revelation, government officials have been caught fuelling decommissioned vehicles at the Central Transport Administration (CTA). This situation continues to raise serious concerns about corruption and mismanagement. These non-functional and decommissioned vehicles are still listed in the ministry’s weekly fuel allocations, despite being unfit for use. Investigations by the Times Sunday have shown that these vehicles, which include ambulances and double-cab vans, have been stationary and defective for long periods. However, they are strangely getting fuel from the CTA. Examples of such vehicles include those registered as GSD 148 UN, GSD 153 UN, GSD 147 UN, and GSD 049 HE, all assigned to the Ministry of Health Blood Bank Unit. Many of these vehicles, including ambulances, have been parked at the Mbabane Government Hospital for over two years. Another vehicle, an Isuzu bakkie registered as GSD 148 UN, has been parked at the Manzini branch of...