Eswatini pension assets reach 57% of GDP amid debt concerns

Eswatini’s pension fund assets have reached approximately E55.8 billion, representing about 57 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg noted that while these funds offer significant potential for long-term domestic capital and sustainable economic growth, they must be managed with strict fiduciary responsibility. Rijkenberg emphasized that pension funds are not government finances and should not be treated as a “government cheque book,” insisting that developmental investments must maintain commercial standards and high-quality returns.

Simultaneously, the government plans to raise an additional E1.5 billion during the current financial year to manage fiscal pressures and fund capital projects. Despite an expected economic growth rate of 5.6 percent in 2025, Minister for Economic Planning and Development Dr. Thambo Gina warned that such growth may not improve living standards for ordinary citizens due to high income and wealth inequality. Gina noted that economic benefits often remain concentrated among the wealthiest sections of society, necessitating more inclusive growth strategies to reach households living below the poverty line.