Debatte über den Staatshaushalt

Gestern in der Zeitung, die der Regierung, resp. dem Schatzmeister des Monarchen gehört.

Einige der Abgeordneten wollen Änderungen. Doch das geht nicht.

• 7 Mar 2017
• Swazi Observer
• By Mbono Mdluli

'BUDGET WON'T CHANGE'

 

...PM tells MPs who rejected national budget last week that it would be politically wrong to revise it

AS the shocking national budget rejection by MPs debate goes on, the Prime Minister Dr Sibusiso Dlamini is reported to have told stunned legislators yesterday that nothing will change.

 

 

FORGET IT: Prime Minister Dr Sibusiso Dlamini.

MPs threw out the E21.8 billion budget last week, arguing it was not people driven and it fell short in addressing pressing needs faced by the country.

Motion

They gave Finance Minister Martin Dlamini 48 hours to bring back to the House a revised budget that addressed all the concerns they had raised.

The motion, that enjoyed majority vote, was moved by Dvokodvweni MP Sitezi Dlamini, who was seconded by Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini.

Yesterday, the finance minister was expected to table a revised budget but that did not happen.

What happened was that MPs went into a caucus meeting where the matter was deliberated for four hours. The PM led his Cabinet team where he stood his ground.

A source close to the caucus revealed that the PM made it clear that what the MPs called for last week (budget revision) would be impossible to achieve, stressing such would be politically wrong.

The PM is reported to have further advised MPs to get going and discuss the budget in the various committees. However, sources said the MPs would hear none of this.

Debate

They stood their ground. When the MPs were advised on the dangers of rejecting the budget, which in Parliament terms is known as the Appropriation Bill, they cared less.
“Procedure dictates that when a Bill is brought to Parliament and is rejected by MPs, that particular Bill would have to be re-tabled in the next session. It cannot be debated in the same session it was rejected,” stated the Parliament source.
The source said given the obtaining situation, the Appropriation Bill that was rejected last week, it meant its debate would have to be shifted to the next session.
“Now this could effectively mean the country has no budget, something that would ground governmet operations. When this was highlighted to the MPs, they said they were aware of this technicality, an indication that they intended grounding operations,” added the source.
Report
However, it was stated that there are certain Standing Orders that would need to be suspended and others invoked to correct the mess caused by the MPs’ vote of last week.
After a lengthy debate that failed to yield any fruits, it was agreed that a select Cabinet team that comprised the finance minister, Ministers Owen Nxumalo and Mduduzi Dlamini was tasked with meeting with the Finance Committee and budget sessional committee and find a lasting solution.
The solution, it was gathered, must have nothing with revising the whole budget. Sources close to the committees disclosed that once again there was a deadlock. The committees are expected to report to Parliament today.
“We have gathered that they failed to reach common ground. MPs are adamant the budget must be redone. We would hear tomorrow (today) what the way forward would be,” stated the source.

MPs want revised budget to address; • Elderly grants • Potable water • Roads rehabilitation • It must be 2022 driven • Must address national needs.