CHIEFS CALL FOR GOVT BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR IMIPHAKATSI

MANZINI – Chiefs are requesting a budget allocation from government to sustain imiphakatsi.

They believe that government is prioritising the development of towns while neglecting royal kraals, which lack the necessary structures and technological tools for advancement.
For this reason, they have appealed to government to allocate funds, specifically for royal kraals, emphasising that the budget should start at the royal kraal level.  They raised these concerns during a meeting with the Ministry of Finance at the Manzini Regional Office yesterday. Minister Mabulala Maseko, along with representatives from the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, was also present.

The Finance Ministry is currently engaging chiefs, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other stakeholders, to discuss how the national budget should be structured. One chief remarked on the importance of understanding the national budget, noting that many emaSwati have misconceptions about it, assuming it refers to hard cash. He pointed out that the traditional authority system has diminished, because people fail to see the benefits of constituency meetings, but he believes that recent government-held meetings could rekindle interest.

Observed

The chief further observed that while government appears to be enhancing parastatals, with prominent buildings being constructed, it is essential to question how these developments benefit emaSwati. He suggested that the national budget should instead support projects that directly benefit the people, such as the Inhlanyelo Fund, expressing concern that government priorities often overlook significant issues in the country. He lamented that emaSwati might remain idle without farming opportunities. “Minister, there are certain projects at imiphakatsi that are not advancing. Will you consider preparing a budget for them? Without the relevant resources, they risk becoming non-existent,” he stated.

Another chief highlighted the inconsistency of being advised against charging for chiefdom stamps, while still needing funds to purchase necessary supplies. He noted that this is not an issue when emaSwati visit government offices, as services there come at a cost. He argued that such practices undermine the relevance of royal kraals. Additionally, he urged government to provide updates on road rehabilitation, mentioning that constituents often blame parliamentarians for failures attributed to budget constraints.In response, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg explained that the Tinkhundla System of Government is unique, being led by chiefs and subsequently incorporating democratic elements.

He emphasised the need for government to engage with chiefdoms to improve the system compared to previous years. He acknowledged that many perceive the budget to primarily benefit towns, which is why efforts are being made to take the budget to the people. He noted that technology would facilitate access to government services via mobile phones, although decentralisation is costly and requires acceleration. Minister Rijkenberg assured the chiefs that government is aligning the chieftaincy development plans with the budget, which he considered a valuable input.

Issue

He admitted that the budget is not always fully available, but stated they are working to resolve this issue. While he recognised the value of agricultural projects, he stressed that the country faces numerous demands and must prioritise to ensure all emaSwati benefit. He explained that while it may appear that towns are favoured, the interests of the entire nation are considered. Minister Maseko encouraged regular meetings for MPs, to engage with their constituents, acknowledging the concern that the budget seems to favour towns while rural areas also require support. He underscored the importance of honouring chiefs.

In another discussion, chiefs expressed that the E500 grant for the elderly is insufficient. Scara Gama, a member of the traditional authority, noted that the sum is meagre and fails to support vulnerable elderly individuals who lack caretakers. He also pointed out the visible presence of homeless people in towns and suggested that government allocates a budget to construct shelters for them.

Furthermore, a chief asserted that it is the duty of parliamentarians to create plans for their constituencies, which should then be presented to the prime minister. He expressed disappointment when the prime minister was recently asked about his plans for the nation. “We ought to budget by identifying the needs of emaSwati at the umphakatsi level and then develop from there,” he suggested.

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