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Report on the Civil Society Budget Forum, Mbabane - 27 March 2003
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1. Executive summary
The Economic Association of Swaziland (ECAS), in collaboration with the Co-ordinating Assemble of Non- Governmental Organisations (CANGO) hosted the ECAS Budget Forum on Thursday March 27 at the American Cultural Centre.
The theme of the event was ‘Assessment of the 2003/04 State Budget.’
The guest speaker for the day was the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Majozi Sithole who presented the highlights of the 2003/4 budget. In addition, there was a panel discussion that included:
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Mr. Musa Hlophe (the Out – going Executive Director of the Federation of Employers)
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Professor Folayan Ojo (from the University of Swaziland) who gave an academic analysis of the budget
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Mr, Alfred Mndzebele (Director, CANGO) who discussed the civil society’s perspective of the budget.
In summary, the Minister highlighted a number of key economic issues of the budget. These include:
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Employment,
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The budget deficit,
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Our level of indebtedness,
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Our fiscal stance,
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Our response to trade liberalisation
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HIV/AIDS
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National events
Panellists on the other hand, asked critical questions, amongst others:
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Governments commitment to good governance and the rule of law
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Where government will get money to generate cash flow and finance the jet, which is not budgeted for.
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Interference of the unaccountable government at Ludzidzini.
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Why the minister is deliberately quiet on the proposed purchase of the Kings jet
Furthermore panellists highlighted the academic analysis of the budget, drawing attention to
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Major global and regional developments
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Domestic developments
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Fiscal situation,
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Budget outturn
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Budget estimates
In addition, from the civil societies perspective, panellists highlighted:
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That the budget does not clearly address the concerns of food security, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and employment creation
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The ever-growing budget of public order, safety and defence
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Participation in development of government
At the end of the discussions, the Minister of Finance made comments addressing concerns of panellists. He gave clarifications to the various issues highlighted during presentations. These amongst others include
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The concern on the Kings Jet,
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The control of external travel and taxes,
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Food security
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Participation in development of government
At the end of the session, participants were engaged in an open discussion where they asked questions and made comments before government officials responsible for the budget. The minister could not stay for the open discussions - he had other pressing matters. He assured participants that the government team responsible for the budget would respond satisfactorily. However due to time constraints not all questions were answered.
At least 65 people from different professions attended the event.
1.1 BACKGROUND
The ECAS Budget forum was initiated in 1993 and unfortunately due to logistical and economic setbacks could not be hosted in 2002. It basically aims at providing a consultative forum amongst economic players. In the past it has proven quite a worthwhile exercise , in that some views developed during deliberations have, to varying extents , influenced government budgetary process. It has also assisted the general public, including business , appreciate how fiscal policy impacts on individual and business decision-making. This year’s event will afford participants an opportunity to gain an insight into the key considerations taken to account in the preparation of the 2003/04 national Budget, and also present a space for input into the implementation of the year’s budget.
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