MBABANE – With almost few hours left before we kiss the year 2021 goodbye, this publication wants to bring you a breakdown of some of the positive things that have happened in the Kingdom of Eswatini during this most stressful year that has ever been witnessed.
Had it not been for COVID-19 effects and the political unrest that has left businesses uncertain, imminent job losses, and partial lawlessness causing fear, Eswatini could have done better in improving its economy.
When issuing his end-of-year message, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini said despite the many challenges that marred the year, government has shown resilience, leading from the front in providing socio-economic, health, and psycho-social support to emaSwati.
He pointed that this included upscaling the government’s Service Delivery programs in response to the needs of emaSwati.
JOB CREATION
The PM stated that over 11 000 jobs from 49 new investments were created in 2020/2021, with more in the pipeline.
He said the government has also continued to provide support to businesses, through funds such as the E45 Million MSME Fund; the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund; the Regional Development Fund; the Informal Traders Revolving Fund as well as the Small Scale Enterprise Loan Guarantee and Export Credit Guarantee Schemes, among others.
“As of the end of November 2021, government had disbursedE14.6 Million through the E45 Million MSME Revolving Fund and E6.8 Million from the Small Scale Loan Guarantee and Export Credit Guarantee schemes,” he said.
Furthermore, the PM stated that government allocated E4.6 Million towards subsidising informal cross-border traders’ PCR COVID-19 tests.
“The Manzini Trade Hub, Inhlanganisela YaboMake, also officially became operational early this year; providing relief to informal traders that previously occupied the Manzini Satellite Bus Rank; thanks to the vision of Her Majesty the Indlovukazi and funding support from COMESA,” he said.
The PM further announced that approximately E40 million has been disbursed through the Reconstruction Fund; a fund that is meant to assist businesses that suffered loss during the unrests.
Youth empowerment
The PM has disclosed that in 2021, government also continued to upscale efforts to create sustainable pathways for our young people to get into business and thrive through the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF). He said 43 loans were approved for youth- owned businesses, amounting to over E2.5 Million.
“Government also continued to fund and support youth entrepreneurship programs such as Junior Achievement Eswatini and Enactus who received their annual grants of E500 000 each; thereby improving their financial literacy programmes while inculcating a culture of entrepreneurship,” he said.
Social support
The premier stated that government further allocated E40 Million towards rebuilding houses for those affected by Tropical Cyclone Eloise, which hit the country early this year, as well as rehabilitating damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges. So far, E29 Million has been spent on repairs relating to this disaster.
“At least 27 bridges have either been reconstructed or fixed to date and 228 houses belonging to the vulnerable and those with little or no coping capacity were either reconstructed or rehabilitated.
In the same vein, government is currently providing food aid to 178 000 people with the support of the Republic of China, Taiwan. More than 300 000 people from over 74 000 households have benefitted through the Cash-Based Transfer (CBT) programme, which is provided by Kirsh Foundation. At least E72 Million will be spent on this project on completion,” he said.
He said in 2021, government allocated over E476 Million to the elderly grants, E28 Million to Persons with Disabilities, and E170 Million to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children.
“Further, Government allocated over E354 Million towards study loans for tertiary students studying locally and outside the country. Government also provides farm inputs to Child Headed Households with the aim of building self-reliance among them,” he said.
Regional Development Fund
PM Cleopas has disclosed that government has availed funds worth over E202 Million this year for projects under the Regional Development Fund.
He said of this amount, E131.9 Million has already been committed to projects, with a balance of E70.8 Million still available.
“We encourage emaSwati to make use of this facility and submit their project proposals through their Tinkhundla to develop themselves and their communities,” he said.
Road infrastructure
The PM stated that government has also forged ahead with plans to improve roads infrastructure, to uplift economic development.
In 2021, government, he said, set up robust maintenance plans that sought to address the current poor state of the country’s road network. He said the heavy rains, which are so welcome in the agricultural sector, have been a drawback to the rehabilitation of the road.
“Roads covering 1 328km have been bladed across the country this year. Over 90% of the roads earmarked for maintenance have been covered. Three other major roads were upgraded to paved standards. These are the Siteki- Tikhuba (D12), Siphocosini-Sigangeni (D78) and the Siphambanweni-Nsalitje (MR21). The Probase project covering 200km has been completed. Two major projects underway are the Mhlaleni-Nhlangano and Mafutseni-Mliba roads rehabilitation,” he said.
Rural Water and Electricity Coverage
The PM stated that in 2021, government constructed 17 major rural water supply schemes to benefit a total of 42 047 people. He said projects of drilling groundwater boreholes to avail potable water supply were undertaken.
In the energy sector, the PM stated that government successfully launched and operationalized the Petroleum Act, to improve energy security and supply.
“This culminated in the establishment of the Eswatini National Petroleum Company. Government further launched the Rural Electrification Access Fund, in a bid to ensure that emaSwati have access to affordable and modern energy by the year 2030,” he said.
Climate change and environmental management
Like many other countries across the globe, Eswatini has been adversely impacted by climate change. This year, heavy rains and storms have flooded dams and destroyed roads and other infrastructure.
The PM has stated that through the support of development partners, the country installed 20 automatic weather stations valued at about E200
000 each this year. He said improved forecasting systems are being developed along with an improved alert system that will interlink various sectors that have a role to play in the early warning system, with meteorological information forming a much-needed basis.
He further stated that in an effort to join hands with the global community in action against climate change, various sectors have worked jointly and prepared a climate action plan which was submitted as the country’s commitment to the UN.
Education
The education sector once again became the biggest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was further aggravated by the unrests which left several schools burnt down and vandalized resulting in disruption of the school programme. The schools calendar has had to be extended into the first quarter of 2022.
“I want to urge all learners to use the festive holidays to catch up on schoolwork in readiness for the coming examinations. I urge parents to safeguard and give all the necessary support and close supervision to the learners,” PM said.
Tourism
“Another sector that was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is the tourism sector. The country once again recorded fewer international visitor arrivals. We are optimistic, however, that the ‘My Tourism; My Holiday’ domestic tourism campaign launched early this month will help revive the sector this festive season. We implore emaSwati to make use of local facilities, while also increasing their chances of winning exciting prizes through the #MyEswatiniTop10 campaign,” he said.
National Dialogue
“Just before the start of the Incwala ceremony, His Majesty commanded the Indvuna of Ludzidzini to announce the National Dialogue to be conducted next year, after the conclusion of Incwala in accordance with National Customs.The dialogue will be conducted in accordance with our culture Esibayeni and in compliance with the country’s Constitution. As a Nation, we look forward to this important process,” he said.
Violence and destruction of property
“Government, and the Nation as a whole, is greatly concerned about continued violence against innocent emaSwati and the destruction of property belonging to persons perceived to be holding opposing political views. It is naïve to imagine that such acts of violence would solicit political support from the public.
No nationals of any other country will support the destruction of public infrastructures such as schools and electricity installations, no one will support the destruction of private homes. As the government, we condemn these acts of vandalism. Those behind such criminal acts will face the full might of the law,”
