PRESS STATEMENT

Mbabane, Eswatini  

Following His Majesty King Mswati III’s declaration of a National Emergency in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) has established an Emergency Preparedness Plan to counter the effects of the virus on services provided to the public by some of the Ministry’s Departments.

You are all aware that last Tuesday, The Right Honourable Prime Minister as commanded by His Majesty King Mswati III and Ingwenyama of Emaswati invoked section 29 of the Disaster Management Act 2006 having assessed the severity of the outbreak worldwide to declare a National Emergency in the Kingdom.

The following precautionary measures have been taken by the Ministry of ICT in some of the Departments:

• Last Tuesday, The Principal Secretary and I had a fruitful meeting with Chief Executive Officers of Eswatini Television and Voice of the Church (VOC); The Directors of Channel YeMaswati and EBIS. We discussed ways in which information and updates could be broadcast timeously so that all citizens can get correct information to alleviate unnecessary confusion. We agreed that factual information will come from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation who are at the forefront. The heads of these sections promised to filter down the information to the newsrooms and to have journalists on standby should there be breaking news.

The Ministry has also tasked the Wellness Team under the Public Sector HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (PSHACC) to monitor the situation.

Part of preparedness plan focuses on the following key areas:

1. The Eswatini Broadcasting & Information Services (EBIS) which provides and interacts with the public and provides services i.e.
   1. Announcements from the public
   2. Public interviews in studios
   3. Marketing and advertising services

Masks, sanitizer liquids and gloves have been provided to EBIS staff as a means to minimize the potential spread of the virus. The reception, revenue office, newsroom and studio areas are continually sanitized, including the ablution facilities. Educative materials have been distributed and posted within our premises. A review and alignment process for the programming schedule have been effected, i.e. minimization of people at public gatherings. Sanitization facilities for the public are available at entry/exit points.

2. Eswatini National Library Services (ENLS) – The Ministry hereby notifies Library users, that all 16 libraries country wide, including the Mobile Library that visits Communities and Tinkhundla for outreach services have been closed due to COVID -19 epidemic.

The only service being rendered to users is the online database (EBSCO). For further information on how to access the online database, users are encouraged to contact the following libraries:

 - Manzini Public Library: 25052125/8

- Mbabane Public Library: 24042633

Users who have library material with them are requested to keep them safe, until normal library operations resume.

3. Eswatini National Archives (ENA) – The search room has since been closed for researchers, students and all group visits have been suspended until further notice due to the prevailing COVID – 19 pandemic.

 

SENATOR MANQOBA B. KHUMALO

ACTING MINISTER FOR INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY