The Central Bank of Eswatini hosted a post-budget seminar bringing together public and private sector professionals to discuss the National Budget presented by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg. In revisiting his budget speech, the minister highlighted priorities around taxes, the government wage bill, procurement, and upcoming capital projects, and identified overspending and corruption as two major challenges with intensified efforts to address them. A six-member cross-sector panel reacted by warning that geopolitical tensions are undermining Eswatini’s economic progress and calling for scrutiny of challenges facing tertiary institutions. The panel urged the government to ensure fiscal policy choices translate into tangible outcomes for the public, including on youth unemployment, and suggested revisiting revenue-generating strategies by prioritising effective collective measures rather than further tax increases while balancing political directives with economic growth initiatives.
Central Bank of Eswatini 2025-03-12
Central Bank of Eswatini convenes post-budget seminar as finance minister highlights taxes wage bill and action on overspending and corruption
The Central Bank of Eswatini hosted a seminar to discuss the National Budget, with Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg emphasizing priorities such as taxes, the government wage bill, and capital projects. A panel highlighted geopolitical tensions and challenges in tertiary education, urging the government to focus on effective fiscal policies and revenue strategies without increasing taxes.