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Ravalomanana leaves E340 000 bill at Royal Villas
By MFANUKHONA NKAMBULE on April 26,2009
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The Sultan Suite at Royal Villas where former Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana stayed.
MBABANE – The chairmanship of the Troika on Defence, Peace and Security comes with a huge financial responsibility as evidenced by a bill of E340 000, which, the taxpayer has to pay Royal Villas for hosting ousted Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana.
However, the good thing about Ravalomanana is that he and his delegation did not commit the taxpayer to a ‘liquor bill’ but the figure quoted above excludes fuel costs and payment of overtime for bodyguards.
Our credible government sources said the bill could have been minimized had government booked the ousted president in one of the cheap villas as opposed to booking the Sultan Suite, which cost E25 000 per night.
In the other up market villas where other presidents previously spent the night, the charges are relatively low as they cost E7 800 per night.
Our investigations unearthed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was offered a discount that saw the taxpayer parting with E19 500 per night for hosting Ravalomanana at the spacious Sultan Suite. Under the discount arrangement, the foreign affairs ministry received a discount of E5 500 per night.
Government sources revealed that E162 000 has already been paid and the ministry is yet to honour the outstanding balance of E172 000. In total, the taxpayer is expected to spend E334 000 on accommodation and food for Ravalomanana and his delegation. His delegation was booked in a separate Villa that cost E7 800 per night.
The Times SUNDAY looked at the other presidential suites at Royal Swazi Sun, another high class hotel in the country. The reservation department of the Royal Swazi Sun said a single bed cost E4 775 per night and double bed in the presidential suite (Royal Suite) cost E4 990 per night. The hotel security is tight and is usually beefed up by the protocol security, which government provides.
Royal Villas General Manager Peter Zan Hussel adamantly declined to reveal the costs of Ravalomanana’s stay on the basis of the client-service provider privileges.
He, however, pointed out that the Sultan Suite had been upgraded and Royal Villas was hugely experienced in hosting presidents as it had offered service to the heads of state many times.
He said Royal Villas had been giving clients special rates.
«I can’t disclose to you how much we charged the Madagascar president for staying here; that’s confidential – it’s between us and government,» said Van Hussel.
Clifford Mamba, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said he had not yet looked at the consolidated bill, but the ministry would negotiate for a discount rate after he had seen the bill.
He pointed out that government used its discretion to accommodate Ravalomanana at the Royal Villas.
