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 2^nd, 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 04^th, 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 6^th, 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 10^th, 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 11^th, 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 17^th, 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 18^th, 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 23^rd, 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 24^th, 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 26^th, His Majesty King Mswati III, through the Prime Minister, addressed the 75^th 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.

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Compiled by: Government Communication.