Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has acknowledged serious irregularities in the national budgeting process, describing the situation as a breach of established governance procedures that must be urgently addressed.
Speaking during parliamentary proceedings, Dlamini openly admitted that the 2026/2027 national budget process had not followed the correct channels, raising concerns about accountability and adherence to the law.
“There is a crisis that has happened with the national budget process,” he said. “After the budget was presented to Cabinet and approved, another budget was brought before Cabinet, and we were told it was from the Portfolio Committee.”
Concerns Over Parallel Budget Process
The PM expressed strong concern over what he described as an irregular and unlawful development, where a parliamentary portfolio committee introduced an alternative budget outside the established process.
“I opposed it and said the second budget should be brought up for discussion in Parliament,” he stated. “I have since been advised that it was wrong for the portfolio committee to bring another budget besides the one already approved by Cabinet.”
“Why should Parliament discuss and approve the national budget if a parliamentary portfolio committee has already come up with its own?” he asked.
This is almost like a board. Your authority comes from the collective—you don’t just leave the board and act on your own.
Legal Concerns and Call for Proper Governance
Further compounding the issue, the PM revealed that he had sought legal advice from the Attorney General after identifying discrepancies in the budget.
“I went to the Attorney General to seek legal opinion,” he said. “The advice was that Parliament should actually not be involved in budgeting.”
“I am disappointed that there are people who want the budgeting laws to be flawed, despite knowing that this is inconsistent with the law,” he said.
“I am also disappointed to learn that a report from the portfolio committee was submitted and accepted in Parliament, despite the fact that this was illegal,” he added.
Despite the challenges, the PM’s candid admission signals a commitment to transparency and restoring order within government processes, reinforcing the importance of lawful, coordinated, and accountable governance systems.
