BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – A huge task lies ahead for Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund and the Small Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO).
These companies have been given a difficult mandate of reducing unemployment by Government, starting from the coming 2024/25 financial year. What makes this task even more difficult is that unemployment is one of the problems that Emaswati widely complained about during Sibaya last year.
Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg made it clear today when delivering the Budget Speech that these companies would be used to reduce unemployment, which was widely raised during the People’s Parliament. What is also interesting is that these companies formalised their collaboration, as it was reported last week Tuesday.
Below are points outlining how the Budget Speech will address concerns raised during Sibaya:
To address unemployment, Government will implement:
- The SEDCO – ESERA Entrepreneurship Project which seeks to integrate entrepreneurship with the mini-grid system.
- The SEDCO – Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund business training, coaching and mentorship project which is targeting 250 youth – owned enterprises to create 500 jobs.
- The Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Project in partnership with the International Trade Center, targeting 300 cattle and goat producers in the four regions
To improve Education Outcomes, Government has:
- Allocated E65 million to continue with the conversion of temporary teaching positions into permanent.
- Continued with the incremental roll-out of Grade 0 to 340 schools, including hiring of Grade 0 teachers.
- Topped-up the school feeding programme by an additional E15 million.
To address the Health crisis:
- Drug shortages will be managed by streamlining the supply chain and transformation of CMS.
- Expansion of renal services to at least two more hospitals, requiring dialysis.
- Continue implementing the policy of having a health facility within an 8 km radius.
- Construction of Ndunayithini, Ntondozi clinics etc.
Growth and service delivery:
- Continuation of the input-subsidy programme, providing assistance to farmers.
- Construction of Mpakeni dam which will provide water for irrigation and other development projects.
- E417m to complete LUSIP II.
- Provision of potable water through the reticulation of water schemes and hand-pumps to ensure that all Emaswati have access to potable water.
- Allocation of E177 million to the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and E183 million towards the Micro Projects Community Development Fund (CDF).
- A programme to establish Digital Hubs at Tinkhundla Centres, which will further ensure decentralisation of Government services.
- Roads spanning about 500km have been targeted for upgrading and these are spread throughout the four regions.
Social Protection:
- Increased the number of eligible Persons with Disabilities to 14 459.
