Taiwan injects E7m for various govt projects
16/05/2014 03:00:00 By Winile Masinga
imageANOTHER DONATION FROM TAIWAN: Taiwan Ambassador to Swaziland Thomas Chen claps as Economic Planning Minister Prince Hlangusemphi hands over the cheques received from the Taiwan Embassy to National Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula.
THE Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan has pumped in E7million (US$ 705 000) to three government ministries for various projects.
E2million of the financial assistance goes to digital photo mapping of the country, E4million for procurement of computers for the police service and E1million for purchasing steel bunk beds and base sets for the police college.
Speaking during the handover of the cheques, Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan Thomas Chen said the digital orthophoto mapping is very important as the current maps of Swaziland were last updated in 1999.
He said a country without proper mapping often felt the pinch when implementing its national projects as it has to pay for the mapping of each project that is based on its land.
He said the fully updated maps will not only be used for development projects but will also be of crucial usage for government ministries dealing with land.
Chen presented the three cheques to the minister for economic planning and development Prince Hlangusemphi at the Taiwanese embassy yesterday morning.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula said the computers will enhance the police service to align itself with the adopted organisational goal of modernising and professionalising the service as well as adapting to the e-government approach whereby all services are delivered electronically.
He said it is imperative for the police to capacitate itself in terms of appropriate equipment and relevant expertise. “Acquisition of computers is a step towards capacitating the police organisation towards e-policing. To this end, we are grateful for the technical and financial support we are receiving from the government of China on Taiwan,” he said.
Magagula added that the computers will ensure better communication system and improved service delivery to the people as computers will eliminate unnecessary delays caused by manual mistakes.
...Upgrade skills to curb cyber crime
MINISTER for Economic Planning and Development Prince Hlangusemphi has said it is very important to have a well-equipped police service in a country.
He said the support from Taiwan will go a long way in improving the conditions of service in national policing as the use of computers is no longer an option but a necessity and a way of life.
crimes
“We strongly encourage our police service to continuously upgrade their computer skills, to keep pace with contemporary criminal activities, especially cyber crime and other computer assisted crimes,” he said.
He added that this also moves at the same pace with government’s drive towards paperless government.
gratitude
He further expressed gratitude to the Taiwanese government for the financial support towards purchasing beds for Matsapha police college.
He appealed to the police service to take good care of the equipment for it to last longer.
