BY MBONO MDLULI
EZULWINI – The forthcoming budget for the 2025/26 financial year will align closely with the Government’s 2025 Plan of Action (PoA), reflecting a decisive step toward achieving effective implementation of national priorities.
This alignment was confirmed during the final day of the 2025 Cabinet Retreat, held at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini under the leadership of Prime Minister Russell Dlamini. In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for a comprehensive review and streamlining of planning and budgeting processes to enhance the delivery of the PoA.
To achieve this, a dedicated team has been appointed, consisting of representatives from key government entities. The team includes members from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, the Ministry of Public Service, the Prime Minister’s Office (PPCU and the Technical Advisor to the Prime Minister), the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (NDMA), and a technical expert specializing in business transformation and accountability.
The team’s Terms of Reference include:
- Reviewing the procurement system.
- Evaluating the Public Finance Management Act.
- Assessing ministries’ management structures.
- Overhauling the project management and budgeting systems.
These tasks are expected to be completed by March 2025. From this year onward, the government will conduct biannual progress evaluations to monitor PoA implementation across ministries.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of aligning government strategies with local realities. “We have been driven too much by external forces based on international mandates, even when these conflict with local priorities. This must change,” he asserted. He added that the Government of Eswatini’s vision and values have been redefined within the PoA to better reflect the country’s aspirations for developed status.
Dlamini also stressed the critical role of comprehensive planning in guiding effective budgeting. He called for a new planning and budgeting approach to ensure government projects and programs are implemented promptly and meet the needs of communities. “Planning is key to inform effective budgeting and execution. Our budgeting system must be aligned with the priorities of our people,” he concluded.
With these changes, the government aims to create a more responsive and efficient planning and budgeting framework, ensuring tangible progress toward national development goals.