BUDGET DOESN’T CATER FOR KING’S DIRECTIVES

LOBAMBA – Most of His Majesty King Mswati III’s directives communicated to government from the Throne have not been implemented, the Times SUNDAY has observed.

The projects initiated by the King were neither mentioned by Minister of Finance Martin Dlamini nor reflected in the government estimates for the 2018/2019 financial year.
The King issued about 22 directives when he officially opened the fifth session of the 11th Parliament three weeks ago.

Most of the directives were the responsibility of the government to include in the 2018/2019 budget tabled by the minister of Finance.
According to the Oxford dictionary, a directive is an authoritative instruction/direction or special order.
A directive is equivalent to a command.

There is no specific project for the Greater Sikhuphe project, no budget for youth based job creation programmes, no budget for setting up of new industries, except the construction of the Sidvokodvo Industrial Estate.
Martin Dlamini, the Minister of Finance, was not available to shed light on this issue as his phone appeared to have been switched off.

Percy Simelane, the Government Press Secretary, said the Speech from the Throne was a master directive, adding that every ministry was expected to base its operations on it.
He said the speed at which government implemented projects was determined by the availability of financial resources.
He said the Speech from the Throne did not leave out anyone as all facets of interests were covered.

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