‘SECURITY FORCES BUDGET TOO HIGH’

MBABANE – Security forces are rolling in cash in the country when compared to similar economy countries as they get the largest chunk of the budget.

When the kingdom’s budget is compared to the Republic of Mauritius and the Kingdom of Lesotho, it is the second highest after Mauritius.
Despite being the least populated country, the government has allocated nearly E2.7 billion to the kingdom’s security forces that comprise His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS), Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF). The country has a population of 1.367 million people as per recordings made in 2017.

A sum of E3.360 billion (Rs 8.4 billion) was allocated to the Mauritius Police Force for recruitment of 583 additional police constables and procurement of equipment, namely acquisition of 18 Light Armoured Personnel Carriers, 12 for the Special Mobile Force and six for the Special Support Unit to reinforce capability in emergency and disaster situations; and technological support to combat crimes and juvenile delinquency.
In total, Mauritius has 2 000 personnel in the armed forces, which also encompasses a coast guard.

Also, in the Kingdom of Lesotho, with a population of 2.233 million people as recorded in 2017, the army was allocated E698 million in the last national budget. When comparing the amounts allocated to the three countries, Eswatini’s security was awarded more than the E2.2 billion allocated to health in the past financial year. This was an allocation that exceeded the previous budget allocation by E585 million in the financial year 2016/2017.

The security services took 12.4 per cent of the country’s total budget of E21.7 billion. The government book of estimates for the 2017-2018 financial year, stated that a total of E1 191 650 000 was allocated to the Ministry of Defence.
Further, the government book of estimates revealed that E995 695 000 was reserved for the police which are under the Prime Minister’s Office. Also, E505 896 000 was reserved for HMCS which is under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs just like the UEDF.

This allocation is contrary to the cries of fiscal challenges that were reported for many years. While the budget for security forces was increased from the previous financial year, the country came to its knees as the health, education and social services lacked financing.
National strikes against the ailing health infrastructure reached their peak as trade unions highlighted to government the discrepancy in the expenditure of government. Also, the education sector was dysfunctional as government failed to provide food for pupils in schools.

In 2014, military spending amounted to 5.9 per cent of all government spending in the country, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in its Military Expenditure Database for 2015.
The military spending amounted to 2.2 per cent of the country’s entire gross domestic product (GDP). The country spends about E850 million on the wage bill annually. This amount is inclusive of the security forces, who mainly recruit on physique over academic prowess.

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