FROM ESWATINI GOVERNMENT MEDIA STATEMENT
EZULWINI – Minister of Sports Harries Bulunga has lauded the establishment of National Sports Commissions as an important step towards professionalising sport in Eswatini. These Commissions represent the different sectors of sport & serve as direct advisory bodies to the Minister on sport development issues.
Minister Bulunga has been speaking at the Commissions’ first briefing in Ezulwini today. The NSCs were established for the first time in 2020 as per the requirements of the National Sports Policy. They are: National Women in Sport Commission; National Games Technical Commission; National Coaches Commission; National Paralympic Committee & National Sport for All Commission.
Speaking during the briefing, Minister Bulunga said, “The NSCs have a critical role to play in the development of sport in the Kingdom. By serving as direct advisors and advocators to the Minister on the issues that pertain their respective sectors, these Commissions ensure that the Minister and indeed the Ministry have firsthand information from the relevant people on topical sport development issues. This, in turn, will ensure that our policy direction and decision making on sport development is adequately informed and equally representative and inclusive.
“I therefore challenge you as Commissions to go above and beyond in coming up with well-researched and innovative guidance that will take our sport to the professional standards we are all working towards. I am excited and look forward to receiving your guidance on a regular basis. I further assure you that this guidance will be put to use” the Minister said.
The Minister’s words were echoed by Women in Sport Commission Chair Fisiwe Vilane. “Some of our recommendations as a Commission include much more focused funding for women programmes & public awareness programmes,” she said.
Coaches Commission Chair Boy Mkhonta highlighted that “One of our resolutions is the development of a standard, entry point General Coaching course which will be a requirement for any coach across all sport codes. We aim for this course to be attached to one of our higher learning institutions.”
