By Ntombi Mhlongo
Presenting a E26.66 billion national budget and helping the country get E11 billion in SACU receipts has seemingly scored Neal Rijkenberg a ticket into the golden circle of ministers who have won the hearts of MPs.
During a debate on the Budget and Annual Performance of the Ministry of Finance, Members of Parliament took turns praising the minister for what they termed a job well done.
The MPs said during his tenure, there has been an improvement in the economy of the country. They also could not stop commending him for working well with them ever since the outgoing 11th Parliament assumed office in 2018.
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Kukhanyeni MP Malavi Sihlongonyane said the minister had shown good leadership skills and inspired his team at the Finance Ministry to put more effort into helping the country achieve its goals in terms of economic development.
Worth noting is that the Kingdom of Eswatini was recently listed as one of the six African countries with the fastest-growing economies.
Hhukwini MP Nkhanyeti Ngwenya said if he was asked to prepare a scorecard for the minister, he would gladly give him eight out of ten.
“I am only withholding the last two marks only because the minister has not yet tabled regulations that will govern the operations of the Regional Development Fund (RDF). There are a lot of challenges with this fund, yet it is one that touches on the lives of the people we serve,” Ngwenya said.
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Also praising the minister was Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini who said Rijkenberg has been one of the most hardworking ministers.
“He worked so hard like it was his last time as a Cabinet minister, yet he will be returning,” the Ndzingeni MP said in jest.
When reacting to the sentiments by of the MPs, the minister said he was grateful to have worked well with them and emphasised that he could not have succeeded had it not been for the support of the team at his ministry and those from other ministries and government departments.
