taiwan govt donates E1.2m for umhlanga victims
18/09/2015 03:00:00By Celucolo Simelane
The government of the Republic of China on Taiwan continues to be a supportive partner in the development of various sectors in the country as it moves towards attaining first world status in the year 2022.
Yesterday the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan Thomas Chen on behalf of his government presented three cheques and one remittance notice amounting to E9.7 million to the kingdom of Swaziland through the ministry of economic planning and development. The financial aid from the ROC government will provide financial assistance to four different projects.
This also included 100 000 US Dollars (which is about E1 250 000) for the umhlanga accident victims.
The brief presentation of the cheques took place at the Taiwanese Embassy yesterday.
Chen said his government took cognisance of the country’s loss through the road accident which claimed the life of 13 regiments and injuring many more during national Umhlanga ceremony.
He passed his condolences to the families on behalf of the people and government of the ROC.
Chen said that as a government, they realised that the remedies that needed to be implemented by the government of the kingdom for those families required a lot of physical and mental efforts. It is for this reason that they have offered financial support to the Swazi government in dealing with this tragedy.
“As the kingdom’s long lasting friend, we support and treasure the Kingdom’s cultural heritage,” Chen said.
Home Affairs Minister Princess Tsandzile speaking during the donation appreciated the kind gesture from the government of the ROC on Taiwan.
She said there could be no better time for such a donation to be forwarded to the country as thiswas the time at which the country was in the process of helping the families and the children involved in the accident while on royal duty.
“The donation will go a long way in helping the government in awarding any kind of help that the families of those who were involved in the accident might need,” she said.
The minister then thanked the continued support from the Taiwanese government.
Prince Hlangusempi appreciated the financial support from the Taiwanese government saying this would go a long way in enhancing the completion of some of the projects that needed completion.
He also commended such a donation saying as a country it would put these to good use.
The following was the breakdown of the donations;
• Biotechnology Park – E4.8m
• UNISWA IDE – E2.8m
• Umhlanga victims – E1.3m
• RSP Music Band - E864 000 (bringing total donations to police to date E9m)
