SPEECH DELIVERED BY

THE HONORABLE MINISTER – TINKHUNDLA ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

HHOHHO REGIONAL COORDINATION LAUNCH

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR – PRINCE TSHEKEDI 

HON. MEMBERS OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES FROM BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT 

HON.MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FROM THE HHOHHO REGION

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY  

UNDP REPRESANTATIVE 

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

 

I GREET YOU ALL, SANIBONANI BEKUNENE

MAY I EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE REGIONAL ADMISTRATOR- UMNTFWANENKHOSI AND THE HONONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR FINDING TIME IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO COME TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION SHARING SESSION.

I RECOGNISE IN OUR PRESENCE THE UNDP REPRESENTATIVE. ON BEHALF OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT AND MY MINISTRY, PLEASE EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS TO THE ENTIRE UN FAMILY FOR THE SUPPORT THEY CONTINUE TO GIVE OUR MINISTRY TOWARDS ACHIVING VISION 2022. THIS TARGET IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY, YET THE JOURNEY IS STILL VERY LONG WITH SO MANY CHALLENGES NOT IMPOSSIBLE THOUGH. IT IS OUR DESIRE AS MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR TINKHUNDLA TO PLAY OUR PART AND PLAY IT VERY WELL. TO ACHIEVE THIS DESIRE WE NEED ALL OF YOU HONOURABLE MEMBERS, WE NEED OUR PORT FOLIO COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WE NEED OUR PARTNERS UNDP AND NGOs, WE NEED ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS, WE NEED COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LEADERS AND MOST OF ALL WE NEED MONEY TO TRANSLATE OUR THOUGHTS AND PLANS INTO ACTIONS. IT IS SUCH ACTIONS WHICH WILL TRANSFORM PEOPLE’S LIVES FOR THEM TO SAY IN 2022, “YES INDEED WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE FIRST WORLD”.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS SUCH GATHERINGS AND INFORMATION SHARING SESSIONS THAT WILL COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MOBILIZE COLLECTIVE ENERGIES AND MONEY TO REALIZE OUR DREAMS. MY HUMBLY REQUEST IS FOR US TO MOVE BEYOND COMPLAINING, CRITISING AND FINGER POINTING TO CELEBRATING OUR STEP BY STEP SUCCESSES AND OFFERING SUGGSTIONS AND PROPOSALS HOW WE CAN DO BETTER. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME THAN THIS WHEN WE NEEDED YOUR COLLECTIVE MINDS. TO OUR PARTNER AGENCIES WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO REDUCE POVERTY IN SWAZILAND FROM THE CURRENT 63% TO SINGLE DIGIT FIGURE BY 2022.

TINKHUNDLA’S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THIS VISION WILL BE THROUGH STRENGTHENING OF REGIONS AND TINKHUNDLA TO BE EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY INSTITUTIONS. SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY BASED INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING OF EMPLOYMENT AND WEALTH CREATION ENTERPRISES IN RURAL AREAS. THE RDF PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN THIS RESPECT.

TODAY MY MINISTRY WANTS TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ON PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNDP IN THE HHOHHO REGION. THE PROJECT IS AT PILOT STAGE. ONCE COMPLETED UNDP HAS ASSURED US THAT IT WILL BE ROLLED OUT TO THE OTHER REGIONS.