MINISTER of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane has affirmed that the ministry is ready and committed to fight corruption.
He said the appointment of commissioners at the Human Rights and Public Administration Commission was one of the critical steps to fight corruption.
This was during the justice portfolio committee sensitisation workshop on The Leadership Code of Conduct Bill yesterday. The minister said the Leadership Code of Conduct Bill was a legislation meant to ensure that all persons in leadership positions and hold public office had integrity and were honest.
He highlighted the need for public officials to uphold the law as well as respect their positions.
The minister added that the Bill also aimed at ensuring that public officials were accountable and accounted for the public funds they were entrusted with.
He said the legislation also aimed to keep public officers in check. He added that it was important for all public officers to declare their assets when they come into office to avoid benefiting from corrupt practices.
The minister recalled that King Subhuza II always advised people in leadership to respect their positions and the people they represented, which was in spirit of the Leadership Code of Conduct Bill.
Half of national budget funds corruption – Mayiwane MP
MAYIWANE Member of Parliament (MP) Sicelo Dlamini has alleged that the level of corruption is so high such that half of the national budget funds corrupt practices.
The MP has further called for the full capacitation and support of the Human Rights and Public Administration Commission to successfully execute their mandate.
The MP said as legislators, they needed assurance that the Commission would be capacitated and called for an induction with the Commission.
“In order for the Commission to be effective, they have to be supported because as we speak half of the country’s budget funds corruption,” he claimed.
He further accused a majority of the persons in executive and leadership positions, saying they were corrupt and the Bill was another legislation that would play a critical role in ending corruption in the country.
Inflated
He said there were a number of reports that public officials inflated the cost of projects in order to line their pockets and enrich themselves with public funds.
The MP further enquired how equipped the Commission was to fight corruption. “One wonders whether the Commission is effective or toothless in the fight against corruption,” he said.
The MP further raised a concern on the lack of public participation in the enactment of laws.
He said as per the dictates of the Constitution, every Liswati had a duty to uphold the law and failure to do so was tantamount to treason.
He noted with concern that most of the laws that directly impact the ordinary citizen were enacted in a hurry without the public’s input.
His sentiments were shared by portfolio committee Chairman MP Michael Masilela who said it would be advantageous for them to utilise the media and reach out to the public.
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Legal Advisor John Mavuso said he had full confidence that the Commission would be effective.
He said now that the legal framework was in place, it was all systems go. He added that the king had already declared the fight against corruption and it was up to every Liswati to play their part.
He admitted that corruption was rife and the corrupt individuals were known.
He said the Commission was ready and would be fully capacitated.
