By Thokozani Mazibuko
The Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, and the Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula were in the spotlight on Wednesday concerning the E30 million bailout for The Luke Commission.
Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament, Marwick Khumalo raised a motion of urgent public importance whereby he moved that the Minister of Finance in consultation with the Minister of Health, facilitate the payment of the budgetary allocation amounting to E30 million.
“EmaSwati’s money should be accounted for but that doesn’t mean the money shouldn’t be released to The Luke Commission.
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This issue touches on the lives of emaSwati. Patients, especially the elderly are being turned back at the facility as the health facility has informed them that they have done everything humanly possible.
It is the elderly people who prefer this health facility,” the legislator said on Wednesday during the House of Assembly sitting.
He went on to point out that it is this Parliament that approved this budget and stated that it is hurting to see patients being turned back because the minister of finance and health have not released the money.
“Don’t allow officials to control you even when His Majesty has commissioned you.
Let us not allow government officials to control us as MPs and Cabinet Ministers as our duty is serving the people back in the Constituencies,” MP Khumalo said.
Moreover, he mentioned that Parliament approved E30 million and that the King endorsed it, but it is unfortunate thatsome people are against it.
“I feel strongly about the elderlies, people who are sick the most are the loyal old, aged citizens. This motion needs totality and I plead Mr. Speaker that this motion be seconded,” MP Khumalo pleaded.
MP Nokuthula Dlamini from the Maseyisini Constituency pointed out that The Luke Commission’s service is world-class.
“We cannot allow this hospital to be closed. This hospital has contributed to the 95 95 95 and even the oxygen plant, the facility can supply other health facilities.
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Hospital has financial transparency. It is only that it is overwhelmed with the attendance daily,” she lamented.
Deputy Speaker, Madala Mhlanga then asked for humility from the parties concerned as he stated that Government should work around how to resuscitate the health of this country.
“We cannot wait for The Luke Commission to be converted into a parastatal, let’s release this bailout.
The fact that it was opened and blessed by His Majesty King Mswati III, Cabinet should release this bailout.
I am happy that the Prime Minister is here, he will release this bailout,” the deputy speaker pointed out. We should not set emaSwati against the King,” the Deputy Speaker pointed it out.
The House of Assembly then agreed that the debate over the motion raised by the Lobamba Lomdzala MP should be put to bed and not further debated.