BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– A day of celebrating the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) successes!
This was earlier today, where the agency, a parastatal under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, celebrated its successes despite the challenges that they faced because of Cyclone Eloise and the emergence of COVID-19.
The NDMA was celebrating the ISO 9001:2015 certification and the SURE Project award presentation at the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) Conference Room in Mbabane.
The certification was approved and handed over by SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company- they are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. SGS has 96 000 employees operate a network of 2 700 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.
Also, the NDMA was celebrating the NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) Investment Award, which they were awarded at a side event of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) #COP27. They won this through the SURE (Strengthening Urban Resilience in Eswatini) Project. The project was instigated by the NDMA and stakeholders including Dr Deepa Pullanikkatil were applauded for their contribution.
Among those present was Minister Pholile Shakantu, who was representing Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku.
Shakantu congratulated the NDMA for its successes, saying government was aware of the challenges and pressures- especially after Cyclone Eloise and during the peak of COVID-19.
She said they persevered through the worst and their success was proof that they had a strong team.
Also one of the speakers was Ndzingeni Member of Parliament Lutfo Dlamini, who was standing in for Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee MP Michael Masuku.
Dlamini encouraged the SGS Company to setup shop in the country, so they could test and certify other parastatals- qualifying them in the global space.
