BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – The much-anticipated Budget Speech for 2025/2026 is expected to be delivered on February 14 at 10am.
This means that next week Friday, the Members of Parliament (MPs) are expected to have been seated in the House by 10am, in anticipation of what Government has in store for the nation, in terms of the budget. The Budget Speech is expected to be tabled by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, in what will be the second sitting of the House for 2025.
The announcement of the Budget Speech was announced by House of Assembly Speaker Jabulani Mabuza. Mabuza echoed the sentiments of Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga, who announced during the opening of the Second Session of the 12th Parliament that the Budget Speech would be delivered during the second sitting of the House.
Mabuza, when making the announcement, pleaded with all the MPs to be present to hear how Government wished to implement its projects for the year 2025/2026. The Budget Speech is expected to touch on important matters such as the welfare of the vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, more especially because His Majesty King Mswati III announced that their grants would be increased during the 2025/2026 financial year.
Other important matters expected to be discussed by the Budget Speech include the infrastructure development, such as roads, bridges, schools, and others. This is especially because Minister Rijkenberg once mentioned that the budget would focus on fixing of infrastructure such as roads and houses, which were damaged during the heavy rains experienced by the country a few weeks ago. Matters touching upon scholarships are also expected to be mentioned during the Budget Speech.
Meanwhile, Khubuta MP Masiphula Mamba was given 14 more days to investigate the banning of plastic bags by the House of Assembly. Mamba made this plea in his capacity as Chairman of a Parliament Select Committee tasked with a responsibility of probing the banning of plastic bags by Government.
