RDF BUDGET INCREASE TO 88 MILLION FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2016/17

 

 

The Minister of Finance Hon. Martin Dlamini, in the recent Parliament Budget speech, has announced a ten percent increase in the allocation of the Regional Development Fund (RDF)

Government has continued to promote rural and regional development through the Regional Development Fund (RDF) and Tinkhundla Centres. In 2015/16, Government provided E80 million to the Fund, which was utilized to deliver rural electrification projects in various communities. In 2016/17, Government will increase the allocation to E88 million,” read Hon. Dlamini.

 The Hon. Minister also assured the nation that efficiency of the Government grant had been improved.

“Mr. Speaker, to improve efficiency of the RDF, new regulations to strengthen management and general operations have been adopted. Under the new regulations, the Micro Projects Unit was appointed to manage the day to day operations of the Fund.

“The new Regulations have simplified the disbursement of funds to communities, so that resources go into the implementation of extensively scrutinized projects to limit any possibilities of implementation failures in future.

“Let me also clarify that the RDF is open to all members of the community, and it is encouraging to note that more young people have received grants from the Fund to start income generating projects,” read the speech.

 

91 COMPUTERS PRESENTED FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY AT TINKHUNDLA CENTRES

 

The Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Hon. Mduduzi Dlamini has presented Computer equipment to the value of $300 000 to all Tinkhundla centres. The equipment was donated to Government by the Republic of China on Taiwan.

In total the embassy donated 91 computers with stands, 16 laptops, 8 photocopying machines and 91 printers.

The Hon Minister said he believed that the computerization of the Tinkhundla project would significantly contribute towards bringing Government as well as improved service closer to the people in the four regions, sub-regions, Tinkhundla and chiefdoms.

“I sincerely accept this donation with a deep sense of gratitude as well as renewed hope that Tinkhundla will live up to His Majesty’s Government’s expectations of leading communities towards vision 2022. These equipment we received are in essential element in ensuring effective service delivery in Tinkhundla centres,” saih Hon. Dlamini.

Present during the presentation were the Principal Secretary Princess Gcebile, Heads of Departments and Members of the portfolio committee from both houses of Parliament.

SPEECH DELIVERED BY

 

THE HONORABLE MINISTER – TINKHUNDLA ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

WORKSHOP ON STRENGTHENING OF REGIONAL COORDINATION

 

Regional Administrators

Principal Secretary (MTAD)

National Director (NERCHA) and Staff

Government officials

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I greet you all, Sanibonani Bekunene.

 

Let me start by congratulating the three Regions we have visited in the past two weekends for organizing and hosting such a spectacular Ingwenyama Cup cultural festivals. I must be honest we all did not know how these festivals were going to look like, the only thing we knew is that our regions were going to do their best to make Ingwenyama proud and make such festivals  the success that they have been. I am so glad that you all exceeded our expectations. This coming weekend we are going to Manzini and we are looking forward to an exciting entertainment and yet another spectacular and glorious culture Ingwenyama Cup.

 

I believe you all know that the success of Government's programs depends on a strong and efficient Regional Administration. It pleases me that when we approached our development partners to support my Ministry in particular UNDP and NERCHA to develop a proposal on how strengthen co-ordination of development and service delivery in the regions, they understood what we were talking about and responded quickly hence our workshop today. Keep up that spirit, we appreciate your continued support.  

 

I would also like to thank my Principal Secretary and officials for using their professional skills in developing the proposed framework we are going to discuss in this workshop. His Excellency the Prime Minister once said that Ministries should start looking at internal existing skills to develop government policy instruments before engaging consultants. The Ministry of Tinkhundla did exactly that and I hope you will agree with me that this is a well written document and demonstrate that given resources we can do so much.   

 

This workshop is a consultative discussion on the proposed Regional Co-ordination Framework and I wish to ask all of you to make contributions so that by the time the document is adopted by Government it is not only a document for the Ministry of Tinkhundla but for one that enjoys support of all the government departments and agencies providing development support and services in the regions. In this workshop we will also share information on the Tinkhundla and Regional Administration Bill. Again this bill is an important instrument to strengthen Administration and co-ordination of development by Regions. I hope you will appreciate the inputs that have been made by several other stakeholders in this bill and also make your own inputs such that by the time we take the bill to approving authorities all possible loop holes will have been closed.

 

I wish you very successful discussions and deliberations throughout this workshop.

 

Thank you. 


REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS MEET MINISTER TO MAP A WAY FORWARD ON TINKHUNDLA BILL

From left: Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Principal Secretary Princess Gcebile, Hhohho Regional Administrator Prince Tsekedi, Minister of Tinkhundla Hon. Mduduzi Dlamini and Shiselweni Regional Administrator Themba Masuku.

 

 

 

The Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Emergency Response Council for HIV and AIDS (NERCHA), is holding a two day workshop with Regional Administrators, Regional Secretaries and Heads of Department from different ministries from the Hhohho region (also known as Regional Development Team).

 

The workshop seeks to stimulate dialogue and map a way forward on the Tinkhundla Regional Administration Bill of 2011. It further seeks to come up with the Regional Administration Coordination Framework with a view to agreeing on a blue print to be used to manage and develop regions.

 

The workshop will further provide a synopsis of coordination challenges encountered in coordinating regional development particularly with respect to the Regional Development Teams and further share information on the HIV and AIDS coordination structure with key stakeholders.

 

Speaking during the official opening of the workshop, the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Hon. Mduduzi Dlamini said the success of Government’s programmes depended on a strong and efficient Regional Administration. He thanked development partners; UNDP and NERCHA for supporting the ministry in developing a proposal on how to strengthen coordination of development and service delivery in the regions.

 

The workshop deliverables are a way forward towards the endorsement of the Bill as an Act/Law; an agreed Regional Administration Coordination Framework and; an appreciation of the HIV and AIDS Regional Coordination structure by stakeholders.

 

 

 

 

 

SPEECH DELIVERED BY

 

THE HONORABLE MINISTER – TINKHUNDLA ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

 

 the donation receiving ceremony for the computerization of tinkhundla project

 

 

VENUE: MTAD

DATE:  03 FEBRUARY, 2016 

TIME:     12:30 pm.

portfolio committee members from both houses of parliament

principal secretary (mtad)

officials (mtad)

members of the media

ladies and gentlemen,

I greet you all, sanibonani bekunene.

today I am pleased to convey our gratitude as the ministry of tinkhundla administration and development to the republic of china on taiwan for their kind donation of office equipment valued at three hundred thousand united states dollars (300 000 us $),  which is more than E3.3 million.

in total the embassy has donated 91 computers with stands, 16 laptops, 8 photocopying machines, and 91 printers.

I sincerely  accept this donation with a deep sense of gratitude as well as renewed hope that tinkhundla will live up to his majesty’s government’s expectations of leading communities towards vision 2022. these equipment we RECEIVED ARE an essential element in ensuring effective service delivery in tinkhundla centers.

I believe that The computerization of the Tinkhundla project will significantly contribute towards bringing Government as well as improved service closer to the people in the different regions, sub-regions, Tinkhundla and chiefdoms across the country.

may I as I conclude this speech assure the republic of china on taiwan that all the equipment donated today will BE SAFE and be put into good use.

 

I thank you.

 

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