Lobamba- Members of Parliament (MPs) have taken a firm stand against the Senate by pushing ahead with their amended version of the E36.9 billion national budget, setting the stage for a deepening institutional standoff between the two chambers.
The tension unfolded during an ordinary sitting of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, March 31, after MPs rejected the Senate’s decision to pass the Appropriation Bill No. 1 of 2026 without incorporating any of their proposed changes.
Despite the Senate opting to adopt the budget in its original form, MPs insisted on retaining their amendments, signaling a growing determination to assert their influence over national spending priorities.
The contested amendments include increased funding for Microprojects, enhanced allocations for road construction and maintenance, and adjustments to legislators’ travel allowances. MPs argue these changes are essential for improving service delivery and directly impacting communities.
Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg confirmed that the Senate had reviewed the proposed changes but ultimately dismissed them, choosing instead to approve the budget as initially tabled.
However, Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, who chairs the House Portfolio Committee under the Ministry of Finance, criticised the Senate’s move, describing it as a setback to development-focused reforms. He maintained that the House’s amendments were designed to uplift ordinary emaSwati, particularly through constituency-level projects.
Khumalo further argued that some elements within the original budget were irregular, and that the House had acted within its mandate to correct them, efforts he said were disregarded by the upper chamber.
In a show of resolve, the House of Assembly resolved to stand by its amendments and proceeded to pass the Appropriation Bill with the changes intact, effectively challenging the Senate’s position.
The development highlights a widening rift, with MPs increasingly positioning themselves as advocates for grassroots needs, while accusing the Senate of routinely siding with the Executive.
“The House stands with emaSwati,” Khumalo asserted, reinforcing the chamber’s stance amid the impasse.
Meanwhile, in a rare moment of consensus, both the House of Assembly and the Senate approved the Supplementary Appropriation Bill No. 2 of 2026, valued at E3.87 billion, after correcting a minor typographical error.
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