By Mfanufikile Khathwane (Intern)
MBABANE – Parliament Clerk Benedict Xaba says limited funding is affecting the full functionality of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the critical body tasked with ensuring accountability in the use of government funds.
He revealed that while Parliament had requested E19 million to sustain its operations, it only received E8.5 million an allocation he described as insufficient. Of that amount, only E1.3 million was earmarked for the PAC’s activities. He made these remarks during the PAC session in the House of Assembly on July 9, 2025.
“It is painful to watch the PAC, whose role is to monitor how public funds are spent, resort to asking for transport from the very institutions they are meant to audit. This compromises their independence and weakens their oversight capacity,” Xaba said.
Despite the challenges, Xaba stated that Parliament is working tirelessly to find solutions. He noted that internal meetings have been held to address logistical hurdles and revealed that a standby generator will be made available in October to ensure Parliament operations are not interrupted by power cuts.
Meanwhile, Nhlambeni Member of Parliament and PAC Vice Chairman, Manzi Zwane, urged the Secretary to prioritize transparency in the hiring process by publicly advertising all available job opportunities in Parliament. “This ensures every Liswati has an equal opportunity to apply, and it enhances public trust in our institutions,” Zwane said.
While financial constraints have caused setbacks, both officials remain optimistic that improved planning, transparency, and internal collaboration will keep Parliament’s core functions running and restore the PAC’s strength as a watchdog of the nation’s finances.
