MBABANE – Despite having faced with a protest-filled month emanating from the political unrest happening in the Kingdom of Eswatini, government has significantly pushed harder and ensured that programs aimed at bringing development keep rolling.
Here is a review of what government did last month.
In October, Government launched a new E450 million referral and emergency complex as well as the Rural Electrification Fund with a startup capital of E64 million. The Fund is aimed at achieving universal access to modern energy for all emaSwati by 2030. Here is a quick recap of Government’s work in the month in review:
• The month began with Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini launching a E41 million-worth ‘Greening of the RFM Hospital’ project which will see the construction of a 1 Megawatt solar plant at RFM Hospital in Manzini. The construction is part of a wider Eswatini- Italy Cooperative Climate Change Project.
• On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku reaffirmed Government’s commitment to the eldery, saying Government would continue to look for sustainable protection initiatives for the elderly while ensuring that existing social protection services and programmes were efficiently provided. The DPM said this during the commemoration of International Day of Older Persons at Hhohho Emuva, Hosea Inkhundla in the Shiselweni Region, under the theme: “Digital Equity for All Ages.”
• Again on the 1st, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi launched the Breast and Cervical Cancer awareness month, also known as ‘the Pink October,’ under the theme: “I’m wise enough to fight COVID-19 and Cancer!”
• On the 6th, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini engaged both Houses of Parliament on Improving Government’s Service Delivery to the public during a Parliamentarians’ Retreat in Ezulwini. The PM further highlighted some of the country’s service delivery achievements and challenges.
• On the 6th, Eswatini received 100 625 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the USA through COVAX. The Pfizer vaccine is the first candidate that Eswatini has received that can be administered to children 12–17 years of age and will therefore be prioritised for this age group.
• On the same day, Minister of Education Lady Howard Mabuza announced the full reopening of all grades in schools with effect from Monday, 11 October 2021.
• During a prize ceremony for a Month of the African Child art competition on the 7th, DPM Themba Masuku announced that Government was currently paying school fees for 68 250 Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
• On the same day, Government launched an e-Payment system for the renewal of vehicle licence discs aimed at improving efficiency and upscaling service delivery. The platform, done with MTN Eswatini, allows vehicle owners to conveniently make licence discs renewal payments from anywhere, at anytime.
• Again on the 7th, the Ministry of Housing invited members of the public to make submissions to the Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 which aims to address issues in the rental housing sector. The Bill can be downloaded via this link: https://t.co/n7aaxiK5FD?amp=1 and submissions can be sent to: ps_housing@gov.sz.
• On the 8th, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security announced that Government had provisionally awarded Pre-Service Tertiary loans (scholarships) to 3 600 out of about 4 100 applicants who applied for the 2021/22 academic year in local institutions.
• On the 9th, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini left Eswatini for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to represent His Majesty King Mswati III at the Expo 2020 Dubai. The Expo provided an opportunity to showcase the very best in Eswatini’s creativity, culture, song and dance, cuisine and business opportunities, showcasing Eswatini as a destination of choice. It further helped Eswatini connect with African and other global innovators, IT specialists and financiers to build partnerships and develop synergies.
• During Eswatini’s National Day at the Expo 2020 Dubai on the 12th, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini told the world that visitors and investors to the Kingdom of Eswatini would experience “the best of Africa in one country.” PM: “Despite being the smallest landlocked country in the Southern hemisphere, Eswatini more than makes up for its lack of size with a hugely diverse range of attractions and activities.” The PM returned home on the 14th.
• On the 14th, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane handed over a newly built police post to the National Commissioner of Police (NATCOM) William Dlamini at Ngwenya Village. Minister Prince Simelane said: “Ngwenya is one of our new, fast growing local authorities and this necessitated the post because the one at the Ngwenya Border post was too far.”
• On the 15th, His Majesty King Mswati III officially opened a E450-million worth referral and emergency complex at Mbabane Government Hospital. The five-floor structure has been built as a result of a partnership between Government and Taiwan.
• On the same day, Minister of Commerce Manqoba Khumalo announced the extension of the validity of liquor licences to 31
December 2024. However, all liquor licences are to be renewed for the year 2022 by 31 December 2021.
• On the 16th, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini announced new eased COVID-19 restrictions under Adjusted Level 1. The PM further announced the closure of schools with immediate effect to protect children from then ongoing, sporadic violence in schools.
• On the 20th, Minister of Natural and Energy Peter Bhembe launched the Rural Electrification Fund, announcing that Government had allocated E64 Million as startup finance for the Fund. Electricity schemes worth E59.7 million will be implemented through the Fund this financial year 2021/2022. The Fund seeks to provide finances that shall assist Government attain equitable regional access to modern energy in order to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits for the citizens of Eswatini.
• On the 23rd, His Majesty King Mswati III, through Indvuna Themba Ginindza, announced that a process of national dialogue through Sibaya would be initiated after the Incwala Ceremony. As per the Kingdom of Eswatini’s Constitution, “the people, through Sibaya, constitute the highest policy and advisory council (Libandla) of the Nation.”
• On the 25th, PM Cleopas Sipho Dlamini announced new appointments and redeployments of Principal Secretaries made by His Majesty King Mswati III in various Government Ministries with effect from 22 October
2021. New PS’s Appointments: Thabsile Mlangeni (Economic Planning); Bhekithemba Gama (Education and Training). Redeployed: Betram Stewart (PMs Office); Khangeziwe Mabuza (Tourism); Lindiwe Mbingo (Justice); Thulani Mkhaliphi (Public Works) and John Hlophe (Labour and Social Security).
• On the 26th, Government announced that businesses damaged during the June civil unrest could receive compensation grants of up to 60% from the Reconstruction Fund. The Fund, launched by His Majesty King
Mswati III in September, is being managed by Eswatini Bank. Businesses can claim for reconstruction or rehabilitation of premises; restoring or replacing of machinery and for loss of stock for MSMES. Application forms are available on the Government website and can also be physically collected from Eswatini Bank, NDMA and SEDCO offices.
• On the 27th, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini held a press conference, reminding the Nation that the National Dialogue that the country would soon embark on would be guided by the Kingdom’s Constitution and that the country’s legally constituted Governance structure remains in place throughout the process.
• On the same day, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi officially launched this year’s World AIDS Day Commemoration under the theme “End inequalities, End AIDS, End Pandemics.”
• On the 28th, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini announced new eased COVID-19 restrictions under Adjusted Level 1. Among the eased restrictions was the reopening of all sporting activities in the country.
• On the 29th, PM Cleopas Sipho Dlamini left Eswatini for Scotland, United Kingdom to represent His Majesty King Mswati III at the Conference of the Parties (COP26) Climate Change Conference.
• On the same day, Minister of Justice Pholile Shakantu officially opened a Workshop for the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa. The workshop was aimed at strengthening Inter-Agency collaboration on asset recovery issues across countries in the region.
• On the 30th, Minister of Sports Harries Bulunga led an integrated Shukuma Eswatini activation at Nkwene Inkhundla. Shukuma is now a mixture of sports, arts and culture activities in a bid to foster a culture of healthy living through sport, art and culture across Eswatini. Shukuma, also aimed at preserving Eswatini’s culture, is organised
through the Ministry’s implementing organs, the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council as well as the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture. Residents were also able to take the COVID-19 vaccine on site.
• During the course of October, over 25 000 emaSwati got fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination continues across the country in November.
