NEW PARLIAMENTARIANS
- YOU ARE URGED TO ESTABLISH A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND ENHANCE SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE NATION WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY AND SPEED.
- AS NEW MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, IT IS CRUCIAL TO DEMONSTRATE UNQUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY, CREDIBILITY, TRUSTWORTHINESS, RESPECT AND A FIRM DEDICATION TO NATIONAL UNITY AT ALL TIMES. YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE NATION, ITS CONSTITUTION, AND THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE.
- IT IS TIME TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD TO ENSURE WE ATTAIN OUR ASPIRATIONS OF FIRST WORLD STATUS.
- ADDRESS THE PRESSING ISSUE OF UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH IS ALSO WITNESSED AROUND THE WORLD.
- COME UP WITH WELL-ESTABLISHED STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE GOOD ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THE COUNTRY.
GOVERNMENT
- WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH A STABILISATION FUND AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE DECLINES FROM THESE REVENUE SOURCES, STARTING IMMEDIATELY. SISU SIBEKELWA NGAPHANDLE MASWATI.
PRIVATE SECTOR
- THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY ITS EFFORTS OF EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.
- EMPHASIS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS GROWING OUR PRESENCE AND CREATING QUALITY JOBS FOR EMASWATI
- WE MUST ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF BECOMING A GLOBAL COMMERCE HUB AND STREAMLINE BORDER FORMALITIES TO MAKE TRADING EASY.
- WE URGE URGENT ATTENTION TOWARDS DECREASING BORDER CONGESTION AND SEEK ALTERNATIVE PORTS OF ENTRY TO LESSEN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN RISKS.
- WE MUST ENHANCE OUR ICT INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEARN HOW TO ADVANCE OUR VALUE CHAINS TO STIMULATE INDUSTRIALISATION AND DIVERSIFICATION.
- WE MUST PRIORITISE WORKER RETRAINING AND UPSKILLING. GOVERNMENT AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MUST WORK TOGETHER TO ACCELERATE THIS PROCESS.
SMEs
- WE MUST IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO STIMULATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE EXPANSION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES).
- OUR FOCUS MUST BE ON FOSTERING A MORE CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT.
- SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS OF REGISTRATION FOR SME’S SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS AS WELL AS REDUCING THE TAX COMPLIANCE BURDEN FOR SMALL, EMERGING BUSINESSES.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
- GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REVIVE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY TO ALL AREAS OF THE KINGDOM.
- OUR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING THE START OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING AND DATA RECOVERY CENTRE MUST PROCEED.
- THE COMPLETION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (ICC) AND HOTEL MUST BE PRIORITISED IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
- THE STRATEGIC OIL RESERVE CONSTRUCTION WILL COMMENCE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THIS WILL FULFIL OUR FUEL SUFFICIENCY OBJECTIVES.
- GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE OUR ROADS, POWER SUPPLY, OFFICES, WATER, AND HOUSING.
- WE URGE GOVERNMENT TO USE AFFORDABLE TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH ARE GOOD FOR LOW TRAFFIC VOLUMES TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM FACED BY OUR PEOPLE. THE COUNTRY REMAINS WITH ABOUT 400 KILOMETRES OF ROADS THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE TARRED.
ENERGY
- WE MUST INVEST HEAVILY IN LOCAL ENERGY GENERATION TO ENSURE SELF DEPENDENCY WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE IN LIGHT OF OUR 2025 ELECTRICITY CONTRACT WITH ESKOM IN SOUTH AFRICA
INNOVATIVE SYSTEM
- THE KINGDOM NEEDS A STRONG NATIONAL SYSTEM OF INNOVATION (NSI) AS IT EMBARKS ON A MISSION TO SHIFT FROM A RESOURCE-BASED TO A KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY THAT VALUES IDEAS, DISCOVERIES, AND INNOVATION.
AGRICULTURE
- TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FUNDING, AN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BOOST INVESTMENT AND ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF VALUE CHAINS. LET US NURTURE OUR LAND TO GIVE US MORE VALUE ADDITION.
TOURISM
- GREAT EFFORT IS NEEDED TO INCREASE VISITOR NUMBERS AND TOURISM SPEND, AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE COUNTRY AS A DESTINATION of CHOICE. WE NEED GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF SITES TO ATTRACT ALL TYPES OF TRAVELLERS.
- THE INDUSTRY IS ENCOURAGED TO OFFER VISITORS A ROYAL EXPERIENCE IN ESWATINI.
- WE ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT GOVERNMENT WILL EXPEDITE THE MERGER OF LUBOMBO’S FIVE GAME PARKS TO PUT MORE ON OFFER FOR OUR TOURISTS.
CLIMATE CHANGE
- LET US BUILD ON OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH HAS EARNED US THE “BEST URBAN DEVELOPMENT NDC INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR, FOR “STRENGTHENING OF URBAN RESILIENCE” IN ESWATINI.
QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES
- THE KINGDOM’S NATIONAL GOAL IS FOR EVERY LISWATI TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE AS AND WHEN THEY NEED IT WITHOUT FINANCIAL OR SERVICE DIFFICULTY. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE PEOPLES’ CALL AT SIBAYA TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY.
- THE COUNTRY WANTS A PEOPLE WHO ARE HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE AND HAVE A HIGH LIFE EXPECTANCY.
- WHILE CELEBRATING DECLINING HIV/AIDS INFECTIONS AND DEATHS, WE MUST REDUCE NEW INFECTIONS SO THAT ESWATINI CAN REMAIN ON COURSE FOR YET ANOTHER MILESTONE, THAT OF ENDING AIDS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT BY 2030.
- OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR HEALTH SECTOR AND PROVIDE SPECIALISED MEDICAL CARE LOCALLY.
- WE URGE GOVERNMENT TO EXPEDITE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROCESS OF MOBILIZING RESOURCES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REFERRAL HOSPITAL AS PROMISED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE KINGDOM.
- THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR. NO LISWATI SHOULD DIE FROM LACK OF PROPER HEALTH SERVICES.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
- I REPEAT THIS CALL (TO END GENDER BASED VIOLENCE) TODAY AND EMPHASISE THAT WE MUST REMOVE THIS DARK SHADOW OF VIOLENCE THAT IS HOVERING OVER OUR SOCIETY.
- IT WILL REQUIRE A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE BY EVERYONE IN FOSTERING CULTURAL CHANGE AND PROMOTING EQUALITY FOR ALL.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
- IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE STEADFASTLY CONTINUE TO FORGE PATHWAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
- CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, HINGES ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, RIGHT FROM THE LOWEST GRADE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
CORRUPTION
- WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENT TO PRIORITISE TAKING ACTION ON THIS MATTER.
- IT IS HIGH TIME WE WITNESS JUDGEMENTS PASSED ON INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN CORRUPTION, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
- LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND STRUCTURES MUST WORK TOGETHER IN OUR QUEST FOR ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CORRUPTION IN ESWATINI.
CONCLUSION
- IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE PUT RESPECT ON A PEDESTAL IN ALL OUR ENDEAVOURS, AS IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC THAT TRULY DEFINES OUR IDENTITY AS EMASWATI.
LET US SPRING TO ACTION AND TARGET AT ATTAINING ABOVE 5% ECONOMIC GROWTH WHILST TACKLING THE PRESSING ISSUES OF POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY. FOR GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THESE KEY NATIONAL CHALLENGES ‘AKAGIJIME ATSI NKWE!’
