PUNISHED FOR LACK OF BALANCED BUDGET

Sir,
 
This government was the last administration in line to deliver the first world vision, and the minister of Finance, Neil Rijkenberg, once acknowledged this pertinent point in a budget speech. But the way things are going, it seems government is determined to whisk the armed forces into the promised First World while the rest of us pay the price up to the last cent in our pockets.

Government has to make the deliberate choice to contract national spending in real terms and allow the private sector to thrive. This means it has to operate on a balanced budget and only spend money it has without indulging in unsustainable debts to pay for its expenditures.

Trust

It seems like politicians in the country do not trust that a vibrant and diversified economy can generate enough government revenue without taxing people to the last ounce of oxygen they breathe. The only economic recovery strategy that government knows is tax upon more taxation. The country always finds itself in the old tried and tested government programming that will guarantee us yet another fiscal crisis in 2024; that is, if the country makes it that far. Government keeps on looking to the same old tax sources to fund the fiscus; thus delivering the first world vision on the backs, shoulders, sweat and blood of individual taxpayers.

Economy

The country’s economy has failed to attract foreign direct investment to establish a thriving private sector that can put a majority of the country’s population back in gainful employment. Since government has failed to grow new businesses, does it expect us to cover the cash hole yet again?

Punished

Why are people being punished for government’s inability to run a balanced budget? Thanks to our government, we can expect to pay more to have food on our tables going forward. It is so quick to emulate the South African economy when it comes to gouging emaSwati’s pockets, but turns a blind eye to the fact that our economy is only a speck of dust compared to the South African economy. When have real incomes increased to match up with the cost of living in Eswatini? With all the money government collects, how does the consumer or taxpayer benefit? At the rate we are going, government is running the risk of burning out its only money making machine, which is people and their personal incomes!

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: