The Government of Eswatini will roll out the long-awaited Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) by April 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the management of public finances.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, during the official launch of the 2025 Income Filing Season and Compliance Improvement Plan, where he confirmed that the digital system is now in its final stages of development. Once operational, the IFMIS will automate key financial processes, including budgeting, procurement, and payments, across all government ministries and departments.
The Minister also revealed that the system is already being utilized for the 2026/27 annual budget. “We are doing this new budget in IFMIS, and we are not going to be doing the side hustle with the old system. We are doing it in IFMIS. So it means that by the time we get to the end of March, the budget will be there. There’s no turning back,” Rijkenberg said.
The Minister of Finance said the system will be a game-changer in improving public expenditure management and restoring confidence among citizens and the business community.
Rijkenberg emphasized that IFMIS is not just an ICT project; it is a national reform that will help us reset the social contract between government and citizens. “When taxpayers fulfil their obligations, they expect efficient and transparent use of public funds, and IFMIS will ensure that happens,” he said.
The new system is also expected to address persistent challenges such as delayed supplier payments and audit backlogs, which have affected business confidence in recent years.
“I’m confident that IFMIS is coming in, and honestly, IFMIS is going to sort out a lot of these issues that we have in the country,” he said.
IFMIS will eliminate manual record-keeping, which has long been associated with inefficiencies and data errors. By streamlining payment workflows and integrating them across ministries, the platform will reduce duplication and improve fiscal control.
The IFMIS rollout forms part of the broader Public Financial Management Reform Programme, which aims to align Eswatini’s fiscal systems with international best practices. The reform is also in line with the National Development Plan 2023-2028, which emphasizes improved governance, digital transformation, and efficient service delivery.