ECONOMIST PUTS HIMSELF IN YOUR SHOES

MBABANE – He sees a budget meant to frustrate citizens with high taxes that will never solve the current problem.

This is a local economist who  preferred to remain anonymous, did all he could to put himself in the shoes of all individuals as he analysed the budget presented by  Minister of Finance, Senator Neal Rijkenberg on Wednesday.

Below is how he took the consumer through. This was a much anticipated budget speech considering the change of government and the state at which government coffers are. “Due to socialisation some of us believe that the national budget is supposed to be for the people. By that, one simply means that it is expected to help improve the lives of the citizens of the country rather than to frustrate us.

“Well, I suppose that all those who had the opportunity to listen to the minister will fully concur with me that this budget is not for the people, but it is for government interesting enough by government.

This budget is aimed at frustrating the citizens of this country in an effort to increase government coffers. Interesting enough, once the proposed items are adopted; there’s no turning back, ever.

This year the Minister of finance presented a budget that had a deficit of E2.98 billion. In short, the minister presented a budget that will need an excess funding of E2.98 billion. As to where this money will come from, one wonders, but I suppose some of the proposed measures will be the ones to cater for such.
“Also, understanding the current financial position of the country, I suppose it is safe to assume that the minister presented a budget that was on paper and no finances to back it up.

The main reason it is easy to assume this is because government is still broke and the situation is dire. For instance, hospitals still do not have some of the much needed medicines, including the famous ‘drip’ that is given to patients when they are admitted. The question that remains is where would the expected E19 billion come from if the situation is this dire?”

Economic growth

One of the things that the minister mentions is the fact that the country’s economy has not been growing at the expected rate. In fact, it has been suborn, such that during the 2018/2019 financial year it is projected to have recorded a growth rate of -4 per cent.

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