The Government month in review: September 2020

01 October 2020

The month of September 2020 was busy for the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini as important initiatives in Tourism, Youth, Energy, Health, Agriculture, ICT, Finance & Business, among many others, were launched & highlighted. Read on below for a brief recap of some of these initiatives undertaken by Government in September:

  • The month began with the Kingdom receiving a ‘Safe Travels Stamp’ from the World Travel & Tourism Council, declaring Eswatini safe for travel in the time of COVID-19. Tourism Minister Moses Vilakati said: “This cements our position in the global top 10 travel destinations of 2020.”
  • The Ministry of Tourism further launched a Domestic Tourism campaign themed “A wonder awaits, Explore it/ Ingcayizivele Ikulindzele” aimed at promoting domestic tourism.
  • On 01 September, Government also launched an e-Customs tariff tool, the first of its kind in Africa, meant to enhance trade & improve customs efficiency through an easy to access customs portal.
  • On the 2nd, Government, through the Ministry of Sports, Culture & Youth Affairs, launched the National Youth Policy 2020. Minister Harries Bulunga said: “This is a Policy that has been shaped by the voices of young people & represents a new gear in how Government seeks to implement rapid youth development in Eswatini.”
  • On the 04th, Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini & Ministers of Youth Harries Bulunga, Education Lady Howard Mabuza and Commerce Manqoba Khumalo participated in a youth dialogue organized by Junior Achievement. The dialogue saw high school pupils engage the PM & Ministers on Youth in Business; Education; Youth Participation & Empowerment as well as Social Protection & Development.
  • On the same day, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Eswatini Enviro-Climate Symposium & Temvelo Awards 2020 all part of Government’s efforts towards promoting a clean Eswatini.
  • On the 6th, the Kingdom of Eswatini celebrated 52 years of Independence. Marking the occasion, Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini said: “Since that day when His Majesty King Sobhuza II ushered us into a new era, we have collectively worked towards making our country a better place for all of us. In education, health, industry and trade and the arts, among many other sectors, we have grown in leaps and bounds, clearly vindicating that we were always ready to shape our own destiny.”
  • On the 10th, the Ministry of Health launched an HIV Self-Testing tool under the theme ‘Tihlole wena/ Do it Yourself’ meant to increase individual’s knowledge of their HIV status and the uptake of prevention, care & treatment services in Eswatini.
  • On the same day, Government launched a first of its kind National Plant Health Inspection Services (NaPHIS) Portal, an efficient digital plant management service aimed at improving the ease of doing business among stakeholders in the plants & plant products import & export business.
  • On the 11th, the Prime Minister toured energy projects in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions worth a combined E480 million and set to benefit thousands of Emaswati while strengthening the country’s overall energy supply. The projects are a 10 Mega Watts Solar Power Plant at Qomintaba worth E250 million, a E200 million Ncandweni Substation & the Ndzevane Substation worth E30 million.
  • On the 17th, the Ministry of Commerce engaged Civil Society on the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. Minister of Commerce Manqoba Khumalo said: “As Government, we have deliberately decided to do things differently from an engagement perspective. We believe the best way to sell a product is to make sure it is stress-tested.”
  • On the 18th, the PM toured the under construction 30kms Manzini-Mbadlane Highway set to be completed in May 2021. The project is one of Government’s major infrastructure projects aimed at improving the country’s road network.
  • On the same day, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Ngwempisi Integrated Landscape Management Plan meant to guide Eswatini’s efforts against environmental degradation.
  • On the 23rd, the PM toured two Royal Science & Technology Park (RSTP) structures in Nokwane and Phocweni. RSTP is a Government entity established in 2012 aimed at promoting science, technology & innovation in Eswatini.
  • On the 24th, the PM launched a National Tree Planting Campaign themed ‘Hlanyela Sihlahla, Wonge Imvelo/ Plant a Tree, Save the Environment’ which seeks to plant 10 million trees in Eswatini in the next five years in order to combat the effects of climate change.
  • On the 26th, His Majesty King Mswati III, through the Prime Minister, addressed the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for stronger & sustained cooperation between countries of the world going into the future.
  • On the last day of the month, the Prime Minister launched the Eswatini Trade Information Portal (ETIP) which will serve as a digital one-stop shop for all trade related information in Eswatini.
  • Government also continued partnering with various institutions to repatriate Emaswati, bringing a total of 23 nationals back home in September while facilitating the return of numerous other Emaswati to their varying duty stations and schools abroad.
  • Government also continued inspecting various public spaces for COVID-19 compliance and in the process shutdown five places of worship for failure to comply with regulations.
  • The Ministry of Economic Planning began a consultative process for the review of the National Population Policy, engaging youth and traditional leaders from the Manzini & Shiselweni regions in the month in review.

Follow Eswatini Government news and activities via these authentic Government channels:

Government website: www.gov.sz

Government Facebook Account: Eswatini Government

Government Twitter Page: @EswatiniGovern1

Government Instagram Page: eswatini_government

Compiled by: Government Communication.

STATEMENT BY THE RT HON. PRIME MINISTER

AMBROSE MANDVULO DLAMINI

AT THE VISIT TO NERCHA HEADQUARTERS

NERCHA OFFICES, MBABANE

THURSDAY 21 MARCH 2019

 

Chairman and members of the NERCHA Council
NERCHA Director
Management and staff
Members of the media

Good morning
It gives me great pleasure to be with you here at the NERCHA premises on this day. I appreciate the enlightening brief I have been afforded in my tour of these offices.
The achievements that have been realized in the HIV and AIDS response are self evident and I remain humbled by the great strides the country has made over the years. From a dark and bleak period, the country has defied all odds by reducing the HIV incidence by almost half.
This is a big milestone which is now the marvel of the world. It is a true sign of the resilience of Emaswati when facing a common challenge. We never lose hope.
These achievements are a result of the strong partnership between Government, communities, civil society, the church as well as the generosity of our development partners working in collaboration with NERCHA as the coordinator. Against the backdrop of these successes, the country has boldly set a target of an AIDS free Country by 2022. To achieve this vision, we need to sustain the gains already achieved and work tirelessly to focus all efforts on Vision 2022. This is not yet time to celebrate but to accelerate the response.
Enrolling people on ART, after they test positive has undoubtedly played a significant role in halting the progression from HIV to AIDS for many, thus reducing the number of AIDS related deaths. The treatment cascade must be accelerated to reach the set target of 95:95:95, that is, to have 95% of those living with HIV know their status, 95% of those who know their status on treatment and 95% of those in treatment virally suppressed, as stated in the National Strategic Framework (NSF) on HIV and AIDS 2018-2023.
Concerted efforts must be made towards the prevention of new HIV infections, thus ensuring that the large majority of persons who are HIV negative maintain their negative status. This requires the strengthening of prevention measures, particularly interventions targeting young people and men among whom high HIV incidence is found. It calls for the scaling up of new innovative interventions in prevention.
I take this time to urge NERCHA and her partners to continue being vigilant in expanding their reach to communities, especially rural areas where a majority of Emaswati live. NERCHA has to ensure that HIV services reach all people across the country. Communities themselves have a duty to strengthen their role in responding to HIV and AIDS especially in improving access to services through demand creation.
The NSF has themed this era of the response as the “The last mile”. In any race, the last mile is always the toughest lap. This holds true in the case of the HIV response. I implore you to increase the pace and not allow exhaustion to take over. There is no room for surrender.
In the process of scaling up efforts to curb new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths, there will be tough decisions to be made. While this will be beneficial in the long term, it may seem radical and uncomfortable in the short term. At a time when the country is facing fiscal challenges it is important that resources afforded every project are used accordingly. I am encouraged by the manner in which NERCHA has managed its grants. I am advised the country has one of the best performing grants in the region. This is commendable and worth accolades.
Once again, may I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to the NERCHA Council, management and staff for the sacrifice and hard work you have made in the HIV response over the years. Thank you for the warm welcome here today and for all the valuable information you have shared with me.
Together we can meet our targets as a country and turn every difficult situation to a resounding success. We have no other alternative but to work towards total control of the epidemic by 2022.
Thank you.

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