By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: The Ministry of Finance Budgeting Team led by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg allegedly held a meeting this week to discuss among others, the ongoing Government financial challenges threatening the country’s economic stability.

The financial challenges erupted or worsened after the Government increased salaries for Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the various Governing Councils (eMabandla) to about one hundred and fifty thousand Rands (R150,000.00) per-month.

An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News further uncovered that, Government is now facing huge financial challenges as in the next financial year 2026/27 commencing in April 2026, civil servants are expecting their eighty-five percent (85%) outstanding increment.

The Government through public funds, is highly expected to fund the forty (40) years King Mswati on the Throne Celebration, cultural activities and other key social programs sustained through Government funding.

But apart from that, it has been disclosed that, the Wage Bill that escalated to over R1billion per-month is fast becoming unsustainable and as a result, the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has been pressured to collect more money while the closure of companies within the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector triggered by the decline in the buying power among other challenges, threatens the tax base and/or future sustainable revenue collection.

“It’s a huge crisis never seen before in the country,” said a senior Government source.

But this publication gathered that, subsequent to the Government Budgeting Team meeting this week, it was resolved that, Government negotiators who are part of the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) will soon approach trade unions to negotiate the postponement of the 85% outstanding salary increment.

Government had promised to pay civil servants around July 2026 but Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg is allegedly facing an increasing financial headache triggered by uncontrolled Government spending, in the coming 2027/28 financial year, the Government will budget over R500million for MPs terminal benefits and members of the various Governing Councils.

Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli declined to comment about the financial challenges that might worsen the country’s economic and social situation.

But Lot Vilakati, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) said, they won’t entertain any request by the Government to delay the payment of the outstanding salary increment.

“Anyone who will include that as an agenda during the negotiations, will be insulting the civil servants, we won’t allow that. We are eagerly waiting for Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg to deliver the National Budget and we want to see the over R800million for the civil servants in the budget,” he said.

The SNAT Secretary General urged the Finance Minister to reduce salaries for Cabinet Ministers, MPs and members of the Governing Council as the quickest way to reduce Government spending.

It has been disclosed that, the financial challenges has affected the payment of Government suppliers thus manifesting into serious cash flow challenges in the country.