Africa-Press – Eswatini. The highly anticipated national Budget Speech is scheduled to be delivered this Friday, 27 February 2026.
The announcement was made by House of Assembly Speaker Jabulani Mabuza on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, during the first sitting of the House for the year. He urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to be seated in the chamber by 10am to hear Cabinet’s spending proposals for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The Budget Speech is expected to be delivered by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, marking his eighth consecutive presentation since his appointment in 2018. He delivered his first Budget Speech in 2019, following the inauguration of the 11th Parliament in 2018.
Speaker Mabuza also addressed logistical arrangements for the event, emphasising that attendance would be strictly by invitation due to limited space in the chamber. He appealed to those without invitation cards not to take offence if they are unable to gain entry, as priority would be given to officially invited guests.
In addition, the Speaker cautioned MPs against bringing snacks into the House, warning that food could attract rodents and potentially damage electronic equipment used to record parliamentary proceedings.
He further urged legislators to maintain decorum and remain attentive during sittings. Mabuza reminded MPs that cameras installed in the chamber are capable of capturing all activity, cautioning that inattentiveness – such as using mobile phones to watch videos – could draw criticism from constituents.
The upcoming Budget Speech is expected to outline government’s fiscal priorities and policy direction for the coming financial year, amid growing public interest in economic recovery, service delivery and national development.
