Eswatini officials address cashflow concerns and pension fund funding

Members of Parliament in Eswatini have expressed concern regarding the government’s cashflow problems, noting that financial constraints are slowing service delivery and stalling development projects. During debates on loan bills for the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and the Digital Eswatini Project, legislators argued that the lack of funds is affecting infrastructure, such as road projects, and impacting the ability of representatives to meet community expectations.

In response to separate criticisms regarding fiscal management, Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg defended the government’s decision to pay rent to the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) for occupied buildings. The Minister stated that these rental payments help address the PSPF’s approximately 13% funding gap. He argued that because the government acts as a guarantor for the fund's shortfall, supporting the PSPF’s financial position through such transactions helps reduce the eventual burden on taxpayers.