Mbabane – The Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, has announced the start of the Budget to the People consultation exercise, a nationwide programme designed to involve citizens in the national budget process.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, the minister said this year’s consultations would go beyond high-level meetings by engaging directly with communities through regional gatherings. The sessions will begin in Manzini on 10 September, followed by Shiselweni on 11 September, Hhohho on 12 September and Lubombo on 17 September. Regional administrators are expected to coordinate the meetings with community leaders.
Rijkenberg said the consultations will give emaSwati a deeper understanding of how the budget is formulated, while also creating a platform for them to contribute proposals. Citizens can submit their input during the meetings or through the ministry’s email address, finance@gov.sz. 
The minister also noted that officials from Eswatini are attending meetings of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) in Addis Ababa. He explained that the sessions are part of efforts to improve the country’s compliance with international standards and avoid the risk of being grey-listed. He is expected to join finance ministers from across the region on Friday for the formal approval sessions.
Rijkenberg further touched on developments in the United States, where lawmakers have tabled a motion to impose sanctions on South Africa. He said while the proposal remains at an early stage, Eswatini is monitoring the situation closely due to the potential impact on trade and economic relations.
