BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development should make sure that people-centred projects should take precedence.
This was an expression made by Members of Parliament (MPs) who are members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This was on April 4, 2025 during the appearance of the Economic Planning Ministry before the PAC in the House of Assembly.
The legislators said this after they discovered that the Ministry deferred an amount of E34 million, which had been allocated for different rural electrification projects and a procurement of a drilling rig. What further irked the lawmakers was that the reason they were given for the deferment was that the money had to be used for other urgent matters. The budget would be released in 2027.
The MPs failed to understand that there could be more important matters than the ones that were meant to enable the masses to have access to water and electricity. Khubuta MP Masiphula Mamba wondered why such things were happening. He mentioned that the United Nations had given the country until 2030 to ensure that all Emaswati had access to water and electricity, through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mamba also wanted to know what the projects could be that were more important than what was needed by the people. Matsanjeni South MP Sabelo Ndlangamandla also wanted to know which of these projects that could be more important than ensuring the people’s access to water and electricity. He could not believe that an amount of E34 million could be deferred for more important projects. Ndlangamandla said in rural areas, people were made to share water with animals, something that was not good for their health.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo reminded the Ministry that the more the people did not have access to clean water, the more they would die. Nxumalo also told the Ministry that he was aware that there were some projects that the Ministry was involved in. However, it was important for the Ministry to prioritise the people so that these other capital projects could also be enjoyed by Emaswati.
In response, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development Principal Secretary Thabsile Mlangeni pleaded with the committee to give her time to find out more about the projects that were to be implemented with this allocation. She said she had to consult with the Ministry of Finance, which was also responsible for budgetary matters.
Worth noting is that His Majesty King Mswati III has mandated Govenrment to ensure that by 2030, all Emaswati should have access to water and electricity. The king issued that directive in February 2025 when he opened the Second Session of the 12th Parliament.
(Pics: Ministry of Economic Planning and Development)
