STATEMENT BY THE RT HON. PRIME MINISTER,
DR. B.S.S.DLAMINI
AT THE LAUNCH OF THE REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, AND DIALOGUE ON THE POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
AT THE ROYAL SWAZI CONVENTION CENTRE
THURSDAY 11 JULY 2013
Honourable Deputy Prime Minister
Honourable Ministers
Chiefs
Members of both Houses of Parliament
Representatives of development partners
Representatives of the private sector
Representatives of civil society
Senior Government officials
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today marks a significant milestone for His Majesty’s Government and, in turn, for the people of Swaziland. This is the time to take stock of the progress made over the past 15 years towards meeting the aspirations of the Nation as articulated in our National Development Strategy – the “NDS” as we know it.
We are here to examine our achievements in pursuit of Vision 2022, the challenges that we have encountered along the way and how we have overcome those challenges. And then, going forward, we have to identify the key strategies needed to deal with the remaining challenges, and to integrate emerging key development issues into the national agenda.
Derived from the global theme of sustainable development, this review process has been appropriately themed as “The Swaziland We Want”. This comes at a most opportune time, when the country is focusing on the elections and looking constructively and optimistically into the future. It is a time for the Nation to re-vitalise its Vision, and craft a development agenda which will set a pace for the incoming Government which, together with our development partners, will move the country steadily towards His Majesty’s vision of “First World Status.”
The NDS is a 25-year forward-looking planning and policy framework that maps the development path for the country. It sets benchmarks and defines national aspirations in relation to national development. After 15 years of implementation, its review is long overdue yet well-timed, given the new dynamics and emerging developments in the national, regional and global arena.
The development of the NDS was participatory and widely consultative. Similarly, the review process will be consultative and, it being a national initiative, every citizen and development partner has an interest and a role to play. It is therefore most encouraging to see such a wide representation of stakeholders at this launch. As we engage on the critical development issues and further determine a sustainable post-2015 Development Agenda, the “Swaziland we want”, should be characterised by national ownership, partnership and transparency.
It is exciting to see our Swazi youth so strongly represented among the stakeholders in this forum. A long term development strategy spans a number of years and it embraces generations. For this reason, it is crucially important for the national development agenda to address the issues that affect our youth. They are the future of our Nation, they make up the largest segment of the population, and they have an undeniable right to be closely involved in the reformulation of our future agenda.
Over the years of the present Administration, the empowerment of our youth has been a priority in our national agenda. But more effort and resources will be necessary to adequately address the key issues affecting youth, especially the level of youth unemployment, the need for skills development and the capacitation of entrepreneurship. I take the opportunity to encourage the youth present at this Review to contribute vigorously on all matters but especially on the issues that affect their development.
It must be noted that the review of the overarching National Development Strategy has implications on other national and sectoral policies and strategies. As we anticipate changes in this national policy document, it is also imperative to review and realign other relevant policies in order to create an enabling environment for implementation at all levels. The afore-mentioned process has to be initiated by the custodians of the sectoral documents once the National Strategy has been reviewed and approved by the relevant structures.
In common with the rest of the United Nations membership we have the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) very closely in mind as we approach the critical date of 2015. The Goals include reducing poverty and halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, as well as providing universal primary education, and these, of course, have represented key components of global and national development initiatives. That MDG framework has undoubtedly helped to galvanize development efforts and guide global and national development priorities, but progress has not been uniform. Further efforts, as well as strong global partnerships for development, are needed to accelerate progress and develop a more forceful yet realistic agenda post-2015.
Focus on achieving the MDGs has stimulated intensive global deliberation and the convening of more than 10 world summits on the subject. World-wide, there has been extensive political commitment to achieving the Goals. The High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the MDGs, held in 2010, did, however, request that thinking be initiated on a post-2015 development agenda, at the same time as including recommendations for accelerating MDG progress.
The outcome of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development also initiated an inclusive intergovernmental process to prepare a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs). There is broad agreement on the need for close linkages between these two processes to arrive at one global development agenda for the post-2015 period, with sustainable development at its centre.
National consultations on a post-2015 development agenda are under way in more than 70 countries where representatives from governments, civil society, humanitarian organizations, academia and the private sector are involved in these discussions. Of necessity, Swaziland ought to be a strategic participant in the process. The key themes being discussed include education, environmental sustainability, governance, growth and employment whilst addressing inequalities, health, hunger, food and nutrition, population dynamics, energy, and water.
The debate should build on existing commitments, such as those reflected in the NDS, the MDGs, the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (PRSAP), and the Rio Outcome document on sustainable development. But the debate should also be broadened and strengthened to address the large array of global challenges currently confronting most, if not all, countries.
There are many other critical issues that will require attention during the NDS review process. I have taken the opportunity to highlight a few in order to stimulate discussion amongst the stakeholders present as you prepare for this important national assignment. I hope these points have been useful to you.
Before I conclude, I would like, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to express the deepest gratitude to all our Development Partners who have tirelessly supported Government in its strategies and activities. For this event in particular I wish to thank the United Nations body and our local consultancy, REDI, for the support given. As the process gains momentum, we look forward to the participation of more development partners in the review and implementation of our National Development Strategy.
With the theme “The Swaziland We Want” at the forefront of our thoughts, let us now work together creatively and energetically as we review, update and generally refine our strategies to ensure that the NDS continues to be the dynamic, defining guideline in our national development.
It is now my honour to declare this workshop of National Development Strategy review, and dialogue on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, officially launched.
Thank you.