BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Government officials who undertake unauthorised external trips risk finding themselves having to pay for that unauthorised trip.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said the administration frowned upon any acts of unauthorised used of public resources, as those funds could have been used on other projects that could improve lives of Emaswati.
Nxumalo said Government was offended by professional work and the various experts deployed within all the levels of Government bureaucracy. However, Nxumalo said it was very rare for any official to undertake unauthorised trips, as they were guarding against such practices.
He said that was the reason why external travels were recommended by a number of offices/officials before they were authorised by His Excellency the Prime Minister. Such an act is meant to achieve the minimisation of external travels, according to Nxumalo.
He further mentioned that there was a budget for external travels. Where the budget was exhausted, controlling officers, such PSs, could make re- allocations to cover the costs of that particular external trip, depending on its strategic importance to Government operations and objectives.
The Government mouthpiece pointed out that individuals who made external travels were known, as records were in the form the minute, which authorised their respective external travel and by the retirement of the travel tour, which was paid by Government.
