MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) have received about E32 880 basic salary increment.
The legislators’ basic salaries have increased from E51 104 to about E83 984. In percentage form, this is about 64% increment.
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This follows the successful implementation of the salary review for politicians this month.
The legislators are now earning in excess of E100 000, including allowances.
According to the Finance Circular No. 2 of 2023 which provides for the terms and conditions of service of parliamentarians, designated office bearers of the 12th Parliament and the attorney general published on August 9, 2023, the basic salary for MPs is E51 104, excluding allowances.
Reliable sources confirmed that the new basic salary for MPs has increased to E83 984.
The ministry of finance is yet to publish the new circular providing for the remuneration of politicians.
Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko said remuneration of politicians was not effected through a public circular, but by a finance circular published by the ministry of finance. “As a ministry of public service we then implement the revised salaries through the finance circular,” said the minister.
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Ministry of Finance Communications Officer Setsabile Dlamini said the new finance circular was yet to be published.
According to Finance Circular No. 2 of 2023, the annual basic salary for MPs is E613 258, amounting to a monthly salary of around E51 104 monthly.
The circular provided that the recommended remuneration structure includes a basic component (salary) which includes provision for an amount to which the second schedule of the income tax order 1975 (as amended) applies.
This is not all-inclusive though as government would be expected to contribute over and above this amount for other benefits and allowances.
However, this month some MPs anonymously confirmed that they received a basic salary of E83 984, which is equal to an annual salary of E1 007 808.
Some politicians, including tindvuna tetinkhundla, and bucopho are aggrieved as they claim that they did not receive any increment on their basic salary. A source who preferred anonymity who is also bucopho in one of the constituencies claimed that they did not receive any increment on their basic salary, which is around E7 600, equivalent to about E91 988 annual salary.
He said they only received an increase in their constituency allowance, which was previously capped at around E6 000. He said the allowance increased by E4 000, now totalling around E10 000. He further mentioned that they also received a backpay of around E4 000 this month.
Chairperson of the Libandla Letindvuna Tenkhundla Eswatini Siboniso Mandlazi said they were not happy with the revised salaries they received this month.
He said they had scheduled a meeting with the ministry of finance to address their concerns. “At the moment, I cannot comment much on the matter as we are yet to meet the ministry tomorrow (today),” he said.
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