MPs want significant budget
LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) do not want the fight against corruption to be hindered by lack of resources.
The Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, is expected to deliver his budget speech on February 23, 2023, as announced by Speaker Jabulani Mabuza, during the House of Assembly’s first sitting, following the State Opening of the First Session of the 12th Parliament last Friday.
The anticipation from the legislators is that the minister would announce a significant budget allocation towards the areas of priority, as highlighted in the Speech from the Throne, particularly the fight against corruption.
The MPs were making submissions on the House motion: “To move that a humble address be presented to His Majesty King Mswati III, thanking him for the speech he delivered on the occasion of the State Opening of the First Session of the 12th Parliament on Friday February 9, 2024.”
The motion was moved and motivated by Prime Minister (PM) Russell Dlamini and welcomed by all members of the House.
Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini was particular on the issue of corruption, submitting that it was high time the sting of the law bit, not just the small fish but the so-called ‘bobhabuli’.
He appreciated the prompt response by the PM in appointing a task team to enhance the fight against corruption, revealing that people engaging in corrupt acts in the name of the King should not be spared.
Dlamini highlighted that there should be no excuse on limited resources in the fight against corruption and as such, the prerogative was with the minister of Finance, to allocate an adequate budget to be utilised in fighting this phenomenon.
Dlamini also touched on the issue of education, pointing out that the African Union declared 2024 the year for education and Eswatini should be seen aligning with that theme.
However, the legislator indicated that challenges of scholars being turned back home for owing school fees were still alive and were hindering the AU’s declaration in the context of Eswatini.
Hhukwini, MP Alec Lushaba, put it to the legislators to rise on the task ahead, that of working diligently on the issues outlined in the Speech from the Throne, including the sensitive issue of corruption.
“Let us not portray the head of State as someone who is not truthful by failing to deliver on the task ahead. Government and all stakeholders should put equal effort in tackling all the issues highlighted by the King in his speech and no one should use whatever powers they have to protect them or anyone closer to them on the issue of corruption, in particular,” Lushaba said.
A five-member team was elected to go and thank His Majesty King Mswati III for the speech he delivered last week Friday.