![\"\"](\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PAGE-4-MPU-has-been-assigned-major-capital-works-responsibilities-including-the-development-of-the-International-Convention-Centre-ICC.jpg\")
The Ministry further committed to tabling the relevant documentation and updates before Parliament once the legal review process is complete.<\/p>\n
Parliament\u2019s Portfolio Committee expressed concern over significant cost overruns in projects overseen by the MPU.<\/p>\n
One cited example was the bulk earthworks cost for the ICC\/FISH project, which ballooned from an initial E80 million to an estimated E567 million an increase of nearly 600 per cent with limited documentation or justification for the variation orders.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers questioned how a unit with just four officials could effectively manage such large and complex projects, raising fears of overreliance on external consultants and potential misuse of funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Portfolio Committee recommends that the Ministry submit a report about the establishment of the Millennium Project Unit and the progress of the Unit being entrusted with heavy project funds within 14 days after the adoption of this report by Parliament,\u201d reads part of the Committee\u2019s recommendation.<\/p>\n
The Committee went further to caution against assigning the upcoming construction of the new Parliament building to the MPU.<\/p>\n
The report warns that lest they witness a recurrence of what is happening now about the long-overdue completion of the International Convention Centre.<\/p>\n
MPs also queried the current status of the new Parliament building project, initially projected to begin by 2027.<\/p>\n
In its response, the Ministry described the matter as sensitive, revealing that diplomatic considerations involving a visiting Vice President had influenced its decision to withhold public updates to avoid negative publicity.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, the engagement did not yield any positive outcomes,\u201d the Ministry stated, adding that a comprehensive update would be provided in the next reporting cycle.<\/p>\n
While the Portfolio Committee stopped short of calling for the suspension of the MPU\u2019s operations, its report signals serious parliamentary concern over the Unit\u2019s lack of regulation, capacity, and oversight.<\/p>\n
The Ministry now faces a 14-day deadline to present Parliament with detailed information on the MPU\u2019s establishment, legal standing, staffing, and project management framework.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Delisa Magagula The Millennium Projects Unit (MPU), under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, has come…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,21,22,24,25],"tags":[46,73,49,58],"class_list":["post-4571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-africa","category-business","category-eswatini-daily-news","category-future","category-national","tag-africa","tag-eswatini","tag-human-interest","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n