Swaziland turns to traffic fines to fill empty coffers

Swaziland’s government is broke and
users of roads and customs services are
beginning to feel the pinch.
“It’s no longer academic or
speculative as to what will happen. We
are seeing the effects of government’s
financial crisis and they are growing,”
the manager of a Matsapha-based road
transport firm told FTW.
Last week the Ministry of Public
Works announced the rolling
retirement of its road grader fleet as
the vehicles have been breaking down
because no money is available for spare
parts. The graders are used largely to
service the rural road network, while
cross border road freight transporters
stick to highways and main urban
arteries. However, the graders are also
used to clear mudslides from highways
during heavy rains, and there is
concern that funds may also run out for
highway maintenance machinery.
A 70% drop in government
revenues after these monies were
no longer available from the pool of
Sacu customs receipts has prompted
a hiring freeze at government
agencies, affecting plans to enhance
customs operations at border posts
and to expand operating hours at the
crossings.
What government has lost from
Sacu it seems determined to make up
in traffic fines. Since October when the
financial crisis hit, police roadblocks
have become ubiquitous as vehicles are
scrutinised for defects while ticketing
for traffic offences is also up.
Government may be broke but
still managed to approve R350m to
continue work on its pet project, a new
international airport located in the
middleveld hamlet of Sikhupe.