Having just been told that some parliaments have power to amend money bills (aka appropriation bills) or authorizations to spend public cash, I have decided to revisit what the 2005 Constitution states. The Constitution requires (at s 111) that any motion or bill which would affect “taxation” or “the Consolidated Fund or any other public funds of Swaziland” can only be considered by either chamber of parliament “with the consent of the Cabinet signified by the Prime Minister or the Minister responsible for finance.”
That answers that, then.
Of course, parly can (and does) knock back proposed appropriations, but the Constitution reflects the reality; it’s a highly centralized decision-making process. So at least we know where the buck stops then. Or do we?
