Swaziland Newsletter No. 865 – 21
February 2025
News from and about Swaziland, compiled by
Global Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk)
in collaboration with Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com),
and sent to all with an interest in Swaziland - free of charge.
Finance
Minister’s budget speech highlights economic milestones
eSwatini
Financial Times (Press Reader
edition), 15 February 2025
Eswatini’s economy is forecasted to
achieve an unprecedented 8.3% growth rate in the 2025/26 fiscal year,
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg
announced during Friday’s budget speech under the theme “Transformation for
Growth!” This growth projection places Eswatini among the fastest-growing
economies in the world.
Rijkenberg attributed the growth to
sustained economic policies and deliberate steps taken by the government to
boost both the recurrent and capital budgets. “The capital budget, which we
have increased by 14.4%, is crucial for driving growth.
Our intentional approach ensures that this
is a pro-growth budget,” he said. The minister detailed several key milestones:
Recurrent budget increase of 8.4% to support essential services. An economic
growth rate of 8.3% in 2025/26, compared to 5% in 2023 and 4.8% in 2024.
Expenditure increase of E3.19 billion,
while maintaining a projected budget deficit of just 3%, one of the lowest in
the region. Despite declining Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) receipts by
E2.6 billion, Eswatini has relied on its SACU Stabilization Fund to cushion the
impact, drawing E1 billion to support this year's budget.
“The establishment of a Sovereign Wealth
Fund, expected to launch in April 2025, will consolidate and professionalize
government holdings for the benefit of the nation,” Rijkenberg revealed.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-financial-times-9y78/20250215/281775634876698
E30
million for state security, nothing for courts
By
Nonduduzo Kunene, Times of eSwatini, 17 February 2025
MBABANE: E30 million has been budgeted for
the procurement of State security equipment. The 2025/26 Budget Estimates
Book shows that the taxpayer will fund this procurement, which falls under Head
05, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). “E30 000 000 local funds to
procure State security equipment,” the estimate book reads. While the
specific type of equipment is not stated, State security equipment generally
encompasses hardware and systems designed to protect a State, its citizens, and
its interests from various threats. This includes physical security measures
like CCTV, access control and intrusion detection, as well as specialised
equipment for intelligence gathering and national defence.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the
taxpayer paid E20 million for the same purpose. Overall, the project will cost
E315 million. A further E20 million has been allocated for the
rehabilitation and fencing of police houses, prioritising those damaged by
storms. “E20 million local funds for rehabilitation of structures affected
by wind-storms: Mbabane PTS, Simunye, Mafutseni, Siteki and Malkerns.” This
project was allocated E18.9 million in 2024/25 and is expected to receive a
further E22 million. Overall, it will cost E180 800 000 over four years.
To date, E38.9 million has been
allocated. An additional E9 million has been allocated in the 2025/26
financial year for the construction of institutional housing for police (phase
one).
“E9 000 000 local funds to clear arrears for construction of additional housing
at Mbabane, Lubulini and Hlane police camps.” In 2024/25, the project was
allocated E11 million. Overall, E170 million has been budgeted for the project
over four financial years. In the 2025/26 financial year, E86 million has
been allocated for police capital projects. Regarding State security, the
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) has been allocated E30 million for the
construction of barracks.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/149480-e30-million-for-state-security-nothing-for-courts.html
See also
Will Govt prevent cash crisis in
2025/26 fully funded budget?
Wage Bill cannot be high with civil
servants living in poverty, working for Government now worse than being a dagga
dealer
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=8407
304
000 face food shortage in eSwatini – FAO
By
Bodwa Mbingo, Saturday Observer
(eSwatini) (Press Reader edition), 15 February 2025
The country’s latest Integrated Food
Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis has estimated that 304 000 people
are facing acute food insecurity between October 2024 and March 2025.
This is contained in the country’s latest
Global Information and Early Warning System issued by the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) this week.
This number, according to the assessment
is about seven per cent more than the assessed food-insecure population in
2023/24.
“The deterioration in acute food
insecurity is attributed to the impact of the El Nino-induced drought on local
food production, which caused income losses and constrained households’ food
supply from own production.
Additionally, high maize prices further
constrain households’ economic access to food,” reads the assessment report in
part.
The report adds that maize import
requirements are expected to rise moderately in 2024/25 with the El
Niño-induced drought in 2024 estimated to have caused a 25 per cent decline in
maize production compared to the five-year average, driven large by yield
reductions.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/saturday-observer-eswatini-9ZB4/20250215/281934548666802
Over
700 benefit from Red Cross, NDMA food aid
By
Bongumusa Simelane, eSwatini Observer (Press Reader edition), 20
February 2025
OVER 700 residents under Pigg’s Peak
Inkhundla have received food parcels courtesy of Baphalali Red Cross Society
and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
The food distribution programme conducted
by Red Cross targeted the most vulnerable members of society. All the chiefdoms
under Pigg’s Peak constituency received the food aid. The chiefdoms included
Ka-Ndeva, Bulembu, Nsangwini, Nginamadvolo, Pigg’s Peak, and Luhlangotsini.
According to Red Cross Society’s Field
Officer Celani Malaza, the food distribution exercise would be in three cycles,
stating that this was the first.
“The first cycle mainly targeted the most
vulnerable in these chiefdom. In the second and third cycle, all those who have
been registered to benefit from the programme will get the food aid,” he said.
 |
Part of the food that was donated to Pigg’s Peak
residents
Malaza said the programme targeted five constituencies in the northern
Hhohho region, namely Pigg’s Peak,
Ndzingeni, Ntfonjeni, Mayiwane and Timphisini.
He explained that NDMA had provided the
food and that Red Cross was responsible for the distribution to the various
communities.
To
read more of this report, click here
https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-observer-9ZB3/20250220/281719800311774
World
Bank expands support to electrify rural eSwatini, reaching 200,000 people
World
Bank media release, 13 February 2025
MBABANE: A new World Bank financed
project is helping set Eswatini on the path to universal energy access by
2030. The Accelerating
Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project
for Eswatini will help the country reach the remaining 12% of the population
with electricity access, ensuring that households in the most remote and
disadvantaged areas benefit from improved access to energy and greater economic
opportunities.
“This initiative is about the people of
Eswatini, ensuring that every Liswati has access to electricity. Eswatini
remains committed to universal energy access, as reaffirmed in our endorsement
of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration at the recent Mission 300 Africa Energy
Summit,” says Eswatini’s Deputy Prime Minister, Honorable Thulisile
Dladla.
The newly announced support builds on the
ongoing Network Reinforcement and Access Project Eswatini. It will follow an
integrated approach for electrification following the country’s Rural
Electrification Plan and the National Energy Policy 2018. ASCENT Eswatini aims
to provide electricity access to 200,000 people, ensuring that 50,000 new
households are connected to electricity over the next five years. This
represents a 20% increase from the 249,014 households connected in 2023.
To read more of this release, click
here
Affordable
housing and resilient cities — eSwatini’s Vision for 2030
eSwatini
Daily News (Press Reader edition), 13
February 2025
THE Government has unveiled strategic plan
to address Housing and Urban Development.
The government of Eswatini is setting its
sights on a brighter urban future with the launch of the Ministry of Housing
and Urban Development (MHUD) Strategic Plan for 2025–2030.
This ambitious plan aims to reshape the
country’s urban landscape by focusing on affordable housing, sustainable land
use, and climate resilience.
At the heart of the plan is a bold
commitment to increasing the stock of affordable housing by 20% within the next
five years.
The Ministry also pledged to upgrade
informal settlements and regulate the rental market to ensure fairness and
affordability. These efforts will be supported by key policies such as the
Sectional Titles Act and a revamped Housing Policy, designed to make
homeownership a reality for more citizens.
The plan isn’t just about building homes
it’s about creating well-planned, inclusive communities. A spatial development
strategy will guide future urban growth, incorporating green building codes,
modern transport systems, and improved waste management services.
Urban governance plays a crucial role in
the success of the strategy. The Ministry is empowering local governments to
take charge of urban development by offering capacity-building programs for
municipal leaders and investing in risk management tools.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/eswatini-daily-news-9y77/20250213/281535116703691
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