MBABANE – “If it is a good review, it should show us all the grades which are paid higher and state the years in which they should not be adjusted.” Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg said this yesterday when explaining the action government will take to ensure that civil servants earn within a reasonable scale, following that the World Bank, through the Eswatini Public Finance Review, reported that salaries of civil servants are 50 per cent higher than those in the private sector. He said if a grade shows overpayment, then the review report should tell us that, for the next four or five years there should be no increase  for that grade until the scales are right. Senior Country Economist for the World Bank Marko Kwaramba shared with government officials through Eswatini Expenditure Management, which entails how the country could strengthen public financial management to support fiscal consolidation and...

MBABANE – About 30 teachers stand to have their salaries frozen for failure to show up at the Ministry of Education and Training yesterday. This follows a downsizing exercise undertaken by the ministry, whose findings pointed out that 105 teachers were not at their duty stations and government could be paying ghost employees. The teachers were requested by the Ministry of Education and Training Under Secretary, Lungelo Nhlengetfwa, to come to the ministry so that the necessary corrections could be made on the irregularities concerning their duty stations, and only 75 showed up. Nhlengetfwa said the 30 teachers who failed to show up at the ministry yesterday, will have their salaries frozen. However, those who failed to show up would still be attended to if they did today. Some of the interviewed teachers at the ministry revealed that the irregularities in their posts were caused by the employer’s failure to...

MBABANE – Salaries of civil servants are 50 per cent higher than those in the private sector, says a World Bank Report. This was disclosed during the launch of the Eswatini Public Finance Review produced by the World Bank. The Eswatini Public Finance Review was officially launched yesterday at the Hilton Garden Inn by the Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Dr Thambo Gina, in partnership with the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance, as well as the Ministry of Health. This is the first Public Finance Review (PFR) since 1996.  The PFR examines and analyses options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure and revenue mobilisation, in support of sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Opportunity Minister Gina said the PFR provides government with a critical opportunity to assess its policies, challenges and opportunities. During the official launch of the PFR, the delegates of the prestigious event were...

Mbabane — The World Bank and the Government of Eswatini launched a new review highlighting ways to make fiscal policy in Eswatini more efficient and effective. The Eswatini Public Finance Review (PFR): Leveraging Fiscal Adjustment for Better Development Outcomes, is the first review for Eswatini since 1996. The review aims to support the country in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending and revenue mobilization to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth. It provides a comprehensive analysis of Eswatini’s fiscal policy and its role in addressing constraints to economic growth and livelihoods. The review acknowledges Eswatini’s strong post-pandemic recovery, which averaged 5.3% growth from 2021 to 2023, while underscoring the urgent need for reforms to achieve broad-based economic progress. “The Government has made significant progress since 2019 in reducing the fiscal deficit and implementing fiscal adjustment measures. Notwithstanding, stepped-up efforts are needed to implement some of the critical reforms...

MANZINI – The E0.40/litre fuel levy, which is set to kick in on March 1, 2025, has sparked uproar within the public transport industry. It was announced by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg. It is set to take effect on March 1, 2025. The government has said that the levy will be used to fund the Roads Authority, a department responsible for maintaining the country’s roads. Public transport operators argue threatening to implement a bus fare hike on March 1, 2025, in response to the fuel levy. The operators argue that they were not consulted by government before the levy was announced, and that the levy will make it more difficult for them to operate their businesses. “As of March 1, 2025, the Act has approved E0.40 to be added to fuel price in order to be able to fund the operations of the Road Agency Fund so that...

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed disappointment with the E100 increase to the elderly grant, announced by Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg last Friday. During yesterday’s budget speech debate, MPs said the 20 per cent increase fell short of expectations, particularly after His Majesty King Mswati III’s Speech from the Throne raised hopes for a more substantial increase. Increase The increase, effective April 1, 2025, will raise the elderly grant from E500 to E600 monthly, and the disability grant from E400 to E450. Mafutseni MP Sabelo Mtetwa, noting years of requests for an increase, called the announced amount disappointing, especially given rising utility costs. Lugongolweni MP Joseph Souza echoed this sentiment, stating the increase sets the elderly against the masses, as they often support families with the grants. He relayed requests for a minimum E700 grant, reviewed annually, reaching E1 200 by 2028. Mhlume MP Sifiso Magagula enquired about the...

MBABANE – A tense confrontation unfolded at the Ministry of Education and Training yesterday, when police forcefully removed members of the teachers’ union executive.The executive members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) were evicted from the ministry’s premises. The incident occurred as the executive members of the  union sought an audience with the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) executive regarding the salary of SNAT President, Mbongwa Dlamini. The government accused him of being absent from work for 109 days without the consent of the employer. Dlamini contended that his absence was due to his involvement in activities on behalf of the association, including attending federation meetings. While waiting in the corridors of the TSC offices, the SNAT executive was approached by about four police officers. The law enforcers requested that they step outside the ministry’s premises, explaining that their presence was disrupting the work of ministry’s officials. Adamant However,...

MBABANE – Government has launched an investigation into the whereabouts of 104 teachers who are continuing to receive salaries despite that they are not located at their workstations. This anomaly was uncovered during the rightsizing exercise which has been recently conducted by government through the Ministry of Public Service. The whereabouts of the teachers is said to be unknown to the employer. The Ministry of Education and Training has since issued a list of the teachers following the redeploying of teachers after reports of overstaffing in some schools. This follows an exercise where the Teaching Services Commission (TSC) and Regional Education Officers had followed up on allegations that there was overstaffing in certain schools. A statement issued by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Bhekithemba Gama, said the 104 teachers should come to the ministry tomorrow carrying their posting letters assigning them to the schools they...

Malawian tactician Meck Mwase has made a sensational return to Eswatini, signing as the new Head Coach for top-flight side Mbabane Highlanders. A statement from the club, seen by Nyasa Times, highlights Mwase’s impressive credentials, emphasizing that he is no stranger to Eswatini football–especially Mbabane Highlanders. “Born on 6 July 1972, Coach Mwase previously led the Highlanders during the 2015/16 season, guiding them to a stunning second-place finish, narrowly missing the league title by a single point. This remains the club’s best league finish in the past decade,” reads part of the statement. Mwase’s football journey is nothing short of remarkable. As a defender, he starred for Jomo Cosmos in South Africa for four seasons after leaving Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers. He also featured for Michau Warriors, Big Bullets, and the Malawi National Team. His coaching career skyrocketed when he took charge of Malawi’s Flames (2019-2021), leading them to the round...

MBABANE – Eswatini is set to be one of southern Africa’s fastest-growing economies in 2025, with a projected real GDP growth rate of 5.7 per cent. This is according to the latest Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook report by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This positions the kingdom among the leaders in regional economic recovery, alongside Zambia and Zimbabwe, as Southern Africa’s overall growth rate is expected to improve from 1.8 per cent in 2024 to 3 per cent in 2025. However, this 5.7 per cent forecast by the AfDB is slightly below the government’s domestic projection of 8.3 per cent, as announced by Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg in his budget speech delivered last Friday. The minister expressed confidence that strong fiscal policies, investment initiatives and economic reforms would help the country surpass international forecasts and achieve higher-than-expected growth. Eswatini’s anticipated economic expansion is a testament to its resilience amid...