YOUR MAJESTY THE INDLOVUKAZI,
EMAKHOSIKATI,
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
PRIME MINISTER,
COUNCILLORS,
CHIEFS,
CHIEF JUSTICE,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
CABINET MINISTERS,
EXCELLENCIES, MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,
PRESIDING OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MANZINI REGION,
SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY BOARD, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE LAPHA E-MAVUSO.
INTRODUCTION
I AM DELIGHTED TO GET THIS MAGNIFICENT OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY (SEC) HERE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND OFFICIAL OPENING OF ITS NEW REGIONAL BUILDING IN MANZINI.
WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION. TO OUR VISITORS FROM OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS, WE EXTEND A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL KINGDOM OF ESWATINI.
THE PRESENCE OF YOU ALL AT THIS DOUBLE CELEBRATION IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE COMPANY HAS INDEED REACHED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1963.
BRIEF HISTORY OF SEC
OVER THE 50 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN GREAT STRIDES IN THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY IN THE COUNTRY. THE NATION WILL RECALL THAT PRIOR TO 1963 SOME ELECTRICITY WAS GENERATED FROM THE MBABANE RIVER BELOW SWAZI INN.
DURING THOSE YEARS THE FACILITY WAS PROVIDING ELECTRICITY TO SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND RESIDENCES IN MBABANE.
WE ARE INFORMED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS STATION WAS CLOSED DOWN RECENTLY BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.
THE ABOVE DEVELOPMENTS TOOK PLACE IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ELECTRICITY ENTITY UNTIL AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT ESTABLISHED THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY BOARD WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN BIRTH TO THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY, SEC.
E26 MILLION NEW REGIONAL OFFICES FOR THE MANZINI REGION
BEFORE COMING HERE WE BLESSED THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY’S NEW MANZINI REGIONAL OFFICES. WE CONGRATULATE THE CONTRACTORS OF THE BUILDING FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND COMMEND THE ARCHITECT FOR PRODUCING A WONDERFULLY DESIGNED STRUCTURE.
THE STATE OF THE ART BUILDING WITH WONDERFUL FACILITIES, COSTING E26 MILLION, WILL NO DOUBT PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH A HEALTHY WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS OUR HOPE THAT SEC STAFF WILL INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF SERVICE IMMENSELY IN APPRECIATION OF THE NEW FACILITIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL.
DURING OUR TOUR OF THE BUILDING, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REGIONAL BUILDING HOUSES A CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE, A 24 HOUR CUSTOMER CONTACT CENTRE AND A LEARNING AND CONFERENCE FACILITY.
THE CONFERENCE AND LEARNING FACILITY WILL, I HOPE, ASSIST IN RAISING THE SKILLS STANDARD OF THE PERSONNEL AT THE COMPANY. INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL IS THE BACKBONE OF SUCCESS FOR ANY COMPANY.
AS WE ALL RECALL, EVERY CITIZEN HAS BEEN CALLED UPON TO PUT MORE EFFORT IN WHATEVER THEY DO SO WE CAN ATTAIN THE REQUIRED IMPETUS FOR DEVELOPING OUR NATION.
SIGNIFICANCE OF PROVIDING RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY
IN ORDER FOR MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE PLACE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SEC TO PROVIDE THE NATION WITH EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE ELECTRICITY.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE COMPANY IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS. THE NATION OUGHT TO APPRECIATE THE OCCASIONAL CHALLENGES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE ASPIRATIONS OF THIS INSTITUTION.
THE MOST COMMON OF THESE ARE NATURAL DISASTERS WHICH CONTINUE TO CAUSE HAVOC ON INFRASTRUCTURE, THUS AFFECTING THE SMOOTH SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.
AS WE CELEBRATE THIS GOLDEN JUBILEE, WE RECOGNISE THAT THIS MILESTONE IN THE LIFE OF THIS COMPANY WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ITS STAFF THROUGH HARD WORK AND TEAM EFFORT.
THIS CELEBRATION IS ALSO AN INDICATION OF HOW UNITED EFFORTS CAN HELP BRING WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT TO THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI.
WE HOPE YOUR CORPORATE PRACTICE WILL BE EMULATED BY OTHER COMPANIES TO HELP THIS COUNTRY REALISE GREAT SUCCESS IN HER ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.
YOU WILL CONCUR THAT INFORMATION COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY (ICT) HAS TAKEN CENTRE STAGE TO BECOME THE CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE.
TODAY WE TALK OF E-EDUCATION, E-GOVERNMENT, E-MEDICINE AND E-SCIENCE, JUST TO MENTION A FEW. EVEN SEC HAS ADOPTED A NEW MODE OF PAYMENT FOR ELECTRICITY – THE CARD SYSTEM.
ALL THESE MODERN TRENDS RELY HEAVILY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRICITY.
RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH OF ANY NATION. IT DOES NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BUT ALSO ATTRACTS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, WHICH IN TURN CREATES EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
STRIDES MADE IN THE PAST 50 YEARS
THE NATION IS PROUD THAT, SINCE 1963, SEC HAS PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND RESOURCES IN CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THE IMPORT OF ELECTRICITY INTO THE COUNTRY.
FOLLOWING THE COMMISSIONING OF OUR SECOND POWER STATION AT EDWALENI POWER STATION IN 1964, WE HAVE SEEN A RAPID GROWTH OF SEC.
OTHER COMPLEMENTARY PROJECTS LIKE THE EZULWINI AND THE MAGUGA POWER STATIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED ONTO THE ELECTRICITY GRID.
I ALSO RECALL VIVIDLY OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING THE 400KV LINE COMMISSIONED AT EDWALENI IN THE YEAR 2000 TO STRENGTHEN THE NETWORK.
THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE COMMENDABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOZAMBIQUE TRANSMISSION COMPANY (MOTRACO) AND ESKOM OF SOUTH AFRICA.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN THAT SEC HAS NOT RESTED ON ITS LAURELS AND CONTINUES TO EXPLORE OTHER AVENUES OF INCREASING THE INTERNAL POWER GENERATION WHILE EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT INCLUDE ENERGY SAVING INITIATIVES.
THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION OF SUBSTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE NETWORK STABILITY AND QUALITY OF SUPPLY.
POWER CHALLENGES IN THE REGION
WHILE THE REGION IS FACED WITH A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS POWER GENERATION, WE REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT THROUGH COLLABORATED EFFORTS SEC AND ITS STAFF WILL COME UP WITH LONG LASTING SOLUTIONS.
YOU SHOULD DEVELOP PROGRAMMES THAT WILL MAKE THIS COMPANY MORE SUSTAINABLE AND GROW TOWARDS CELEBRATING A 100 YEARS OF EXISTENCE.
PARTNERSHIPS
AS WE CELEBRATE THIS 50 YEAR MILESTONE, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PLEASANT RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS IN THE REGION.
EDM AND ESKOM HAVE STOOD FIRM IN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE KINGDOM, BY NOT ONLY PROVIDING ELECTRICITY, BUT ALSO TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OVER THE YEARS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE REGION.
AS A REGION WE NEED TO SHARE EXPERTISE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PEOPLE. WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED IN OTHER PROJECTS WITH THE REPUBLICS OF MOZAMBIQUE AND SOUTH AFRICA AND THIS HAS EARNED HANDSOME DIVIDENDS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
WE ENCOURAGE THIS GOODWILL TO CONTINUE IN THE SPIRIT OF SADC COOPERATION.
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THE PROVISION OF ELECTRICITY IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR THIS WE ARE GRATEFUL.
WE HAVE BEEN RELIABLY INFORMED THAT THROUGH THE UNWAVERING EFFORTS OF THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME, THE NETWORK HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 120 000 CUSTOMERS.
AS A RESULT, THE COUNTRY IS NOW RANKED THIRD AMONG THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN POWER POOL MEMBERS IN TERMS OF GIVING OUR PEOPLE ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY.
THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AN ACCELERATED ELECTRICITY NETWORK GROWTH WILL HELP US SURGE FORWARD TOWARDS ACHIEVING OUR MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND OUR VISION TO BECOME A DEVELOPED COUNTRY.
BY 2022 WE HOPE THAT THE ENTIRE KINGDOM WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY. THIS IS A CHALLENGE WE PLACE BEFORE SEC TODAY.
RECOGNITION OF SERVICE
WHILE WE CELEBRATE THE GROWTH OF THE COMPANY, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT NOT TO FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A HAND IN ITS DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS BOARDS OF DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF FROM WHEN IT WAS STILL KNOWN AS THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY BOARD (SEB) TO WHAT IS NOW SEC TODAY.
THE RESULTS OF THEIR HARD WORK ARE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE. WE IMPLORE THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT SEC, TO MAINTAIN THIS ENVIABLE SPIRIT OF EXEMPLARY DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE KINGDOM’S ENERGY SECTOR. MAY EVERY EMPLOYEE LEAVE A GOOD LEGACY AT THIS COMPANY.
CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION, WE WISH TO ASSURE SEC OF THE NATION’S SUPPORT AS YOU ENDEAVOUR TO PROVIDE EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE ELECTRICITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
LET ME ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE NATION’S DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE THEFT OF COPPER WIRE CABLES. THIS HAS CAUSED POWER CUTS AND ALSO AFFECTED OUR COMMUNICATION IN GENERAL SINCE THE SWAZILAND POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (SPTC) IS ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS CRIME.
WE URGE THOSE RESPONSIBLE TO PUT AN IMMEDIATE END TO IT. ELECTRICITY IS NOT JUST AN ESSENTIAL COMMODITY BUT IS ALSO VERY, VERY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN CLAIM YOUR LIFE.
TO THE NATION AS A WHOLE, LET US FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF SEC AND STOP ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY CONNECTIONS. THIS ACT IS TANTAMOUNT TO THEFT AND SEC IS LOSING MILLIONS OF EMALANGENI WHICH COULD BE CHANNELLED TOWARDS THE MUCH NEEDED DEVELOPMENT.
WE WISH TO THANK SEC FOR ITS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES EXTENDED TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS GOES A LONG WAY IN ENHANCING THE LIVELIHOODS OF OUR PEOPLE.
TO THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS EVENT, WE WISH TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK. WE HAVE ALSO ENJOYED THE SPLENDID PERFORMANCES RENDERED HERE TODAY.
DECLARATION
AT THIS JUNCTURE, LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DECLARE THE SEC REGIONAL OFFICES IN MANZINI OFFICIALLY OPENED.
AND AS A NEW CHILD IN THE FAMILY OF SEC THE BUILDING WILL BE KNOWN AS KHANYISA HOUSE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WISHING THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY A HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND MAY THE COMPANY CONTINUE TO SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU - MAY THE ALL MIGHTY GOD BLESS US ALL