By Silindzelwe Nxumalo
The minister of finance Neal Rijkenburg has tabled an increase in the national budget from E26.4 billion in the previous year to E29.4 billion for the year 2024/2025.
The theme of the budget for this year is “Nkwe for growth” – to enable and equip Eswatini to hit the ground running for economic growth and service delivery.
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The minister said this year’s budget is fully financed. He added that it has been financed mostly by domestic funding and external funding.
Rijkenburg said one of the key concentrations of this year’s budget is the completion of the country’s ongoing capital projects which would eventually start making money for the country.
The minister highlighted that for this year, the ICC has been allocated E1.11 billion which will ensure that it is finalised by 2025.
He stated that ministries that received increases in their budgets included the Ministry of Agriculture, Health, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
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Furthermore, the minister announced that for the first time, the country has a contingency fund of E200 million which is expected to reach E600 million in the future.
He explained that this fund is for assisting the country mid-year whenever there is trouble in the country.
