YOUR MAJESTY THE INDLOVUKAZI

EMAKHOSIKATI,

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES,

PRIME MINISTER,

COUNCILLORS,

CHIEFS,

CHIEF JUSTICE,

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,

CABINET MINISTERS,

MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HHOHHO REGION,

MEMBERS OF THE MVA BOARD,

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MVA AND STAFF,

FUNDS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FROM THE REGION,

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

LADIES & GENTLEMEN.

SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE LAPHA ECONVENTION CENTRE EZULWINI.

INTRODUCTION

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO JOIN THE MVA FAMILY TODAY TO BLESS THE NEW SINCEPHETELO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT FUND BUILDING AND THE CLINIC HERE IN MBABANE.

THIS OCCASION MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE MVA FUND WHICH PLAYSAN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CATERING FOR ROAD ACCIDENT SURVIVORS.

WE WELCOME ALLTHOSE PRESENT HERE TO WITNESS THIS OCCASION AND WE EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS WHO HAVE TRAVELLED FROM THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE REGION TO BE WITH US TODAY.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SINCEPHETELO MVA

IT IS ON SUCH OCCASIONS THAT WE GET TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANT ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS PLAYED BY SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. PROGRESS IS GOOD AND DESIRED BY ALL AND OUR GROWTH AS A NATION OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS HAS COME WITH MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY OUR ROAD NETWORK.

WHILE THIS IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN WELCOMED BY ALL, WE HAVE WITNESSED NUMEROUS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS ON OUR ROADS WHICH HAVE CLAIMED MANY LIVES, LEAVING OTHERS INJURED ORPARALYSED. NONE OF THE VICTIMS OR SURVIVORS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS ARE EVER PREPARED FOR THEM YET WHEN THEY DO OCCUR, THEY REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND SUPPORT.

THIS IS WHAT LED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE THIRD PARTY INSURANCE BACK IN 1973. IT OFFERED COMPENSATION TO THE VICTIMS, PROVIDED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD PURCHASED INSURANCE COVER. HOWEVER, AS WE MAY RECALL, THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH TO CATER FOR THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AS MOTORISTS COULD NOT AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR PAYMENTS DUE TO A HIKE IN PREMIUMS - LEAVING MANY ACCIDENT VICTIMS WITHOUT COMPENSATION.

GOVERNMENT TOOK THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE INTO CONSIDERATION AND ESTABLISHED A UNIVERSAL COVER FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT IS FUNDED BY A FUEL LEVY. WE CAN ALL ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT ROAD ACCIDENTS CAN CAUSE ONE TO LOSE THEIR ABILITY

TO WORK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1991, THE FUND HAS SETTLED CLAIMS TO THE TUNE OF E1.4 BILLION WHICH WE HOPE HAS GONE A LONG WAY IN MITIGATING THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS.

GROWTH AND TURNAROUND OF MVA

WE ARE PLEASED TO NOTE HOW THE FUND HAS MANAGED TO OVERCOME A HUGE DEFICIT OF E71 MILLION IN 2006 TO BECOMING AN INSTITUTION THAT BOASTS OF CURRENT ASSETS VALUED AT E578,463,173 AS AT MARCH 31, 2017; AGAINST LIABILITIES WHICH ARE VALUED AT E227,215,004. THESE ARE CLAIMS THAT ARE BEING PROCESSED YET TO BE PAID OUT.

WE CONGRATULATE MANAGEMENT FOR DEVISING A TURNAROUND STRATEGY THAT HAS YIELDED THESE POSITIVE RESULTS THAT SHOULD SUSTAIN THE ORGANISATION WELL INTO THE FUTURE. WE ARE HAPPY TO LEARN THAT A GREATER PART OF THE FUND’S TURNAROUND, IS A PRODUCT OF LONG HOURS OF INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE SHARING AMONG COUNTRIES OF THE REGION OVER THE PAST DECADE.

WE HAVE ALSO LEARNT THAT THE FINANCIAL TURNAROUND IS ATTRIBUTED TO SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND STRICT CONTROLS IN TERMS OF CLAIMS PAYMENT AND RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS. WE URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS.

LAUNCH OF THE NEW BUILDING AND HEALTH CENTRE TOTAL COST E200 MILLION.

THE FIVE STOREY BUILDING WE ARE HERE TO BLESS TODAY IS A PRODUCT OF THE SUCCESSFUL TURNAROUND STRATEGY OF THE FUND, WHICH IS LAUDABLE. DURING A TOUR OF THE BUILDING I WAS HIGHLY IMPRESSED BY THE WORLD CLASS CLINIC FACILITY WHICH HOUSES ONE OF THE BEST RADIOLOGY CENTRES ACROSS THE SADC REGION.

HAVING SUCH A FACILITY IN THE KINGDOM WILL, NO DOUBT, ELIMINATE THE NEED TO TRANSFER PATIENTS ACROSS THE BORDER WHERE WE FACE HIGH MEDICAL COSTS. WE COMMEND MVA FOR OPENING THIS FACILITY TO THE PUBLIC FOR CONSULTATIONS WHICH WILL COMPLEMENT FACILITIES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.

IT IS ASSURING TO LEARN THAT MVA NOW HAS AN INVESTMENT MANAGER’S OFFICE, WHOSE MANDATE IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND EFFECTIVELY MAKE THE FUND A SUSTAINABLE INSTITUTION.

DECENTRALISATION AND CALL CENTRE

ALSO PLEASING TO NOTE IS THAT AS THE ROAD NETWORK EXPANDS TO ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE KINGDOM, THE SINCEPHETELO MVA FUND HAS GROWN TO DECENTRALISE ITS SERVCES COUNTRYWIDE.

WE ENCOURAGE THE NATION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SATELLITE OFFICES WHICH ARE SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SERVE TO COMPLEMENT GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TOWARDS DECENTRALISATION OF SERVICES.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A CALL CENTRE AS PART OF YOUR PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INFORMATION EFFORTS. MAY WE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO MAKE FULL USE OF THESE SERVICES TO EDUCATE OURSELVES ON THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FUND. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO URGE THE RECIPIENTS OF MVA PAYOUTS TO USE THE PAYOUTS RESPONSIBLY TO AVOID FUTURE HARDSHIPS.

REGIONAL INTEGRATION

AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE IN THE REGION, WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE ON-GOING CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN MVA AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS IN THE REGION. THIS SHOULD ENABLE CROSS BORDER ASSISTANCE IN CLAIMING FOR COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS EXPERIENCED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

INGWENYAMA CUP CONTRIBUTION

IN REACHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT THE MVA HAS DEVISED CREATIVE WAYS TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE INGWENYAMA CUP.USING SPORTS AND CULTURE TO ACHIEVE YOUR OBECTIVES HAS HELPED CHANGED THE LIVES OF MANY EMASWATI WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE TOURNAMENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THIS REGARD WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

CONCLUSION

WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTRY HAS A FUND TO COMPENSATE ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT ROAD ACCIDENTS ARE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY. IN THIS REGARD, WE URGE YOU TO INTENSIFY YOUR ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS DRIVES. WE ALSO CALL UPON THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH MVA IN THE PREVENTION OF ROAD ACCIDENTS.

WE APPEAL TO MOTORISTS NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE AND TO ENSURE THEIR VEHICLES ARE ROADWORTHY. LIVESTOCK OWNERS ARE ALSO URGED TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS AWAY FROM THE ROADS, AS THIS WOULD CONTRIBUTE IMMENSELY TO THE REDUCTION OF ACCIDENTS AND THE LOSS OF LIVES.

FINALLY, MAY WE THANK ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT. WE APPRECIATE THE WONDERFUL ENTERTAINMENT AND THE GIFTS PRESENTED TO US.

DECLARATION

I NOW HAVE THE HONOUR TO DECLARE THE NEW SINCEPHETELO MVA BUILDING AND THE CLINIC OFFICIALLY OPEN UNDER MY HAND TODAY.

I THANK YOU. MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS US ALL.