BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini is expected to visit the National Science and Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction while in the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The Prime Minister left yesterday morning for Taiwan after being invited by the Government of that country, under the leadership of outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen. According to Eswatini TV, the Disaster Reduction Centre is one of the many establishments to be visited by the Premier while in that country.
It is believed that the purpose of the visit is to find out how the centre operates, with an intention of learning the traits they use to reduce disasters in that country, so that the same, if possible, can be applied in this country.
The PM is also expected to visit the Eswatini Embassy in Taiwan and also hold talks with Taiwan Engineering Consultants. He will also visit the Taipei Medical University. The PM is also expected to conclude his visit by holding talks with President Tsai Ing-wen.
Dlamini is visiting Taiwan for the first time, since he was appointed as the Prime Minister last year by His Majesty King Mswati III, at the conclusion of Sibaya.
According to Wikipedia, the legal basis for the establishment of Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction was the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act enacted in 2000. The agency was officially established in July 2003. In 2014, it became an administrative entity under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
According to the centre’s website, Taiwan is located in a region with high risk of natural hazards, which frequently cause considerable casualties of life and damages to property. Therefore, the Taiwanese Government prioritises the development of science and technology for disaster reduction and emergency preparedness to mitigate the adverse impacts caused by disasters.
After the “Chi-Chi Earthquake” in 1999, the tremendous destructions and severe casualties clearly indicated importance of introducing science and technology into disaster management. In January 2001, the Sixth National Science and Technology Conference proposed to establish a national-level center designed for upgrading the capacity of disaster risk reduction through practical implementations of science and technology.
The recommendation was a solid response to Article 7 of the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act which was enforced in July of 2000. In July 2003, the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), transitioned from the Program Office of the National Science and Technology Program for Hazard Mitigation (NAPHM), was officially established as a think-tank to the government by providing in-depth suggestions on natural disaster reduction.
In 2014, following the restructured framework of the Executive Yuan, NCDR received a new identity, “administrative entity”, and is now operated under the supervision of the National Science and Technology Council.
The Prime Minister will visit the centre at a time when Eswatini is also having its own share of disasters that are striking the country. For example, when schools were opened in January, areas such as Ngculwini were hit by hailstorms and this resulted in destruction of many properties such as schools and homes. Many people are still recovering from that shock. Government tried to come to the rescue repairing the schools and homes so that lives could go back to normal for Emaswati.
