eSwatini report: Ministers must tighten belts to help lift economy

Prime Minister of Eswatini Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini speaks during the COP24 UN Climate Change Conference in 2018 in Katowice, Poland [Photo, Reuters]

The Kingdom of eSwatini is looking at cutting cabinet ministers’ housing, travel and entertainment allowances as part of attempts to revive the economy of the southern African country formerly known as Swaziland.

A Royal Commission tasked with investigating how politicians are remunerated in the landlocked country submitted recommendations on Friday, including ending first-class travel for ministers except for Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini and his deputy.

The recommendations, tabled before cabinet and awaiting Royal approval, also call for housing allowances to be cut to 12.5 per cent of annual salaries from 25 per cent, so cabinet ministers would get Sh52,243 (7,719 emalangeni) per month for this purpose instead of Sh103,884 (15,349 emalangeni).

Entertainment allowances would be cut by 7% to Sh12, 534 (1,852 emalangeni), and in addition the prime minister and his deputy would contribute 33 per cent towards their medical cover.

eSwatini Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg said in February the kingdom was facing an “unprecedented economic crisis” and was set to continue faltering as it faces slowing rates of foreign investment and a fast-growing wage bill.