MBABANE, 22 Feb. (IRIN): Releasing Swazilands budget this week in parliament, Finance Minister Majozi Sithole revealed that more than two-thirds of the population earned less than a dollar (6,20 DKR) a day.
– The extent of poverty in the country, especially in the rural areas, cannot be overemphasised. This has seriously affected peoples ability to access basic necessities such as health care and education, Sithole said.
About 800.000 Swazis out of 1,2 million – or 69 percent of the population, survive on about 21 US dollar a month, less than 70 US cent (5 DKR) a day, enough only to buy a loaf of bread, according to Sithole.
Describing education as the “catalyst” to break the poverty cycles, Sithole underlined the need to provide free universal primary education for all children within three years. However, the educations slice of the 1 billion dollar state budget is down to 20 percent from last years 26.4 percent.
A huge chunk of the budget – about 450 million dollar – will be spent on salaries, prompting Sitholes annual complaint about the bloated and unaffordable ranks of public servants, a matter of concern also to the International Monetary Fund.
Much smaller proportions have been allocated to address the various humanitarian crises in the country – 4,8 million dollar for drought relief; 7,6 million for the welfare of Swazilands 70.000 AIDS orphans; and 4,7 million for the rollout of antiretroviral drugs in a country with the worlds highest HIV prevalence rate – with 42,6 percent of adults HIV positive.
Despite increasing incidence of desertification, water pollution and population pressure on the small Southern African countrys natural environment, only about 244.000 dollar has been set aside for the Swaziland Environmental Authority.
In contrast, the countrys army saw its allocation rise from last years 43,8 million dollar to 58,7 million. The police will receive 5 million, up from 3,7 million dollar last year. Sithole complained that last year, the police overspent their budget by 12,5 million.
With a sizeable chunk of treasurys money going to the nations security forces, poverty eradication efforts will largely be funded by 16 million US dollar in grants from international donors.
KIlde: FN-bureauet IRINnews
