STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER

DR B.S.S.DLAMINI

AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS VEHICLES

AT SIBANE HOTEL, EZULWINI

FRIDAY 8 MAY 2015

Your Royal Highnesses

Chiefs

Honourable Ministers

Regional Administrators

Portfolio Committee Members of both Houses of Parliament

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to attend this launch of the vehicles that have been purchased and are to be utilized under the Regional Development Fund.

The primary purpose of the Regional Development Fund – in short, the “RDF” – is to improve the standard of living for people in rural communities through the development of the kind of infrastructure that will enable those communities to engage more fully in commercial activities, primarily at small scale level.

The RDF is the main development instrument for facilitating the participation of grass roots communities, from umpakatsi (chiefdom) to inkundla level. While that objective has been clear and unchanged since the inception of the RDF, there have been challenges encountered during implementation. These challenges included a lack of technical and transport support, weak appraisal and procurement systems, and the lack of monitoring and evaluation methods.

The RDF needed an urgent review and I am pleased to report that the review was carried out and I take the opportunity to thank members of Parliament for their collaboration with the respective Government Ministries during the process of reviewing the RDF Regulations.

 

The outcome of that exercise has been a significantly improved set of RDF Regulations. The Fund now has a special Administration Component integrated with RDF operations. An amount of 5% of the annual RDF allocation is now allocated to this new Component that is considered essential for efficient operationalization of the resources allocated to the Fund.

 

This allocation is intended for the procurement of vehicles, recruitment of technical staff, general procurement services and office administration. The responsibility for the Administration Component has been allocated to the Microprojects Unit in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. Given the track record of the Microprojects Unit the initiative is expected to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the operations of the RDF. 

This is a strengthening measure but does not take away, or diminish, the role and relevant responsibilities of the Ministry of the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development and other Government Ministries. Line Ministries are still expected to play a pivotal role in the provision of technical support, especially in respect of their own community projects. There should, nevertheless, be a clear articulation and understanding of responsibilities to avoid gaps and overlaps.

A further improvement in the operationalization of the RDF is the establishment of various committees to appraise and approve viable community projects. These include the Regional Development Fund Committees, Regional Technical Committees, Tinkhundla Councils and Bobandlancane.

Lest the sound of committees being established gives the impression of the creation of excess bureaucracy and red tape, let me assure the Nation that these measures are absolutely necessary. History justifies the need. The committees are in place to achieve the necessary degree of efficiency in identifying viable and sustainable projects that will directly address the respective needs of communities, and that processes are followed that ensure the proper control over resources allocated. Nevertheless, it is important, at this stage in the introduction of improvements, to urge those committees to remember at all times the standards expected of them.

There are many who will play an important part in giving full value for every lilangeni committed and spent. I urge members of Parliament, regional administrators, regional secretaries, tinkhundla committees, local chiefs, development committees, community development officers and the Microprojects Unit to make the fullest commitment to improving implementation standards in this well-intentioned mechanism that is the Regional Development Fund.

Today’s event commemorates the putting to work of a number of vehicles, purchased out of the Administration Component. The vehicles will facilitate the work of the Component regarding the implementation, supervision and monitoring of funded community projects. Every kilometer driven must do so to make a difference! Let us ensure that the impact of this new transport support is amply visible to communities across the country as resources are allocated from the RDF.

The review of the RDF Regulations necessitated a suspension of allocation of funds from public funds last Government financial year. Communities are thus waiting eagerly for disbursement to be re-activated. As this process is revived under the new Regulations and modus operandi, let me remind all involved in the process of appraisal of projects, allocation of funds and monitoring and evaluation of beneficiary projects that each allocation should facilitate the creation of as many small-scale commercial projects as possible. Let us see the multiplier effect in operation.

I conclude, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, by thanking all those involved in the development of improvements to the implementation of the RDF, and declaring the Regional Development Fund vehicles officially launched.

 

Please ensure the vehicles work to the maximum level of effectiveness. And are driven carefully!

Thank you.