MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu has raised concerns over the delayed release of the reviewed Chapter E, saying the matter continues to negatively affect Eswatini diplomats and their dependents serving abroad.
The minister made these remarks during a consultative forum between the country’s ambassadors and Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini held at The Royal Villas last Wednesday, where about 13 ambassadors were in attendance.
The engagement followed a call by the prime minister for ambassadors to openly register challenges affecting their work performance and welfare, particularly issues linked to the ongoing salary review process.
Chapter E is a section of the General Orders that specifically deals with officers in foreign service.
Addressing the prime minister, Shakantu said there had initially been a promise that Chapter E would form part of the salary review report.
“Unfortunately, when the report was released, the reviewed Chapter E was not there,” said Shakantu.
She said upon follow-up, her ministry was informed that the document mainly dealt with allowances, which were expected to be released at the beginning of the current financial year.
“If this does not happen, we will request your support to ensure that we continue working well with the ministry of public service. We have been neglected for many years,” said the minister.
She clarified that Chapter E was not an appeal, but part of the broader salary review process.
ALSO READ | King renews call for Taiwan’s UN recognition
This issue had already been highlighted in the ministry’s 2024/25 annual performance report, which noted that the delayed finalisation and release of the revised Chapter E by the ministry of public service continues to affect diplomats and their families.
According to the report, the delays impacted several areas including allowances, leave entitlements, medical cover, shipment of personal effects and furniture options for diplomats posted abroad.
Shakantu added that as years progressed, both the challenges and demands facing diplomats continued to grow.
“This issue is of paramount importance as it affects the livelihoods of our ambassadors and diplomats,” she said.
Meanwhile, ambassadors also informed the prime minister that many missions continued to face serious human capital shortages.
They said some missions operated with only four Emaswati officials, including the ambassador, despite being responsible for multiple countries.
The diplomats said the shortage limited their ability to effectively market the kingdom and secure potential investors abroad. Although they acknowledged the country’s financial constraints, they said the lack of personnel continued to affect their operations.
Other concerns that had been raised by the ministry in its performance reports related to health insurance for diplomats. It noted that health insurance was a legal requirement in most countries, but inadequate funding in some missions meant certain diplomats and their families remained without medical cover.
“Health insurance is a legal requirement in most countries. Currently individual missions address the health insurance concerns of its diplomats.
“However, when there is inadequate funding in the country’s missions some staff members are not insured and that is risky,” the ministry reported.
In addition, the ministry had cited inadequate budget allocations for missions abroad, particularly in areas such as transport, communication, professional services, consumables and contributions to regional and international organisations.
The situation was reportedly worsened by fluctuating exchange rates between the Lilangeni and major foreign currencies.
Furthermore, the high cost of rentals for diplomats’ residences and mission chanceries had also been included as a challenge.
The ministry noted that in some countries, government had been paying rentals since independence, making the arrangement increasingly expensive and unsustainable under the current fiscal climate.
