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,

ICAAO REGIONAL DIRECTOR,

PRESIDING OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE LUBOMBO REGION,

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

 

SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE ESIKHUPHE

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

TODAY IS ONE OF GREAT PRIDE AND JOY FOR ME TO BE HERE TO OFFICIALLY BLESS THE OPENING OF OUR NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

THE NATION WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DAY BECAUSE THE NEW AIRPORT COMES WITH MULTIPLE BENEFITS FOR THE GENERAL POPULACE.

WE WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS NEW JEWEL FOR THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU COULD ALL COME TO WITNESS THIS MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR KINGDOM THROUGH PROJECTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

TO OUR VISITORS WHO HAVE COME TO JOIN US FOR THIS CEREMONY, WE WISH TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO ESWATINI. THE NATION HIGHLY APPRECIATES YOUR PRESENCE AND WE HOPE YOU SHALL TAKE BACK GOOD MEMORIES OF THE KINGDOM TO SHARE WITH YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN.

 

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

AT THE DAWN OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, THE COUNTRY EMBARKED ON AN AGGRESSIVE PROGRAMME TO POSITION ITSELF AS A FIRST WORLD COUNTRY AS ENSHRINED IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (NDS).

THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMBARK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMES THAT INCLUDE; THE FACTORY SHELLS, MAVUSO TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE AND THE FIVE STAR HOTEL AND AMUSEMENT PARK.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT COMMENCED IN 2003 ALTHOUGH IT WAS CONCEIVED IN 1999 WHEN THE COUNTRY EMBARKED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM PROJECTS.

THESE PROJECTS WERE EARMARKED TO CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POPULACE AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR NATION.

THE MAVUSO TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE AND SPORTS CENTRE FACILITIES ARE NOW HOSTING A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES. DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE PROJECTS THERE WERE THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE A WASTE OF NATIONAL RESOURCES.

THESE FACILITIES HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR ANTICIPATED UTILISATION. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE NGWENYA – MANZINI HIGHWAY WHICH NOW HAS TO BE EXPANDED DUE TO THE HEAVY TRAFFIC. THESE PROGRAMMES HAVE POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTRY’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT(GDP).

DEVELOPMENT AROUND SIKHUPHE

ALTHOUGH IT HAS TAKEN A WHILE TO COMPLETE THIS AIRPORT DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONS, TODAY THE NATION IS PLEASED THAT WE HAVE COME TO COMMISSION IT.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIRPORT HAS BROUGHT MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THIS AREA. DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS COME WITH THIS PROJECT INCLUDES CLEAN DRINKING WATER, HIGHWAYS, ACCESS ROADS TO HOMESTEADS AND ELECTRICITY, TO MENTION BUT A FEW.

ALSO, PEOPLE FOUND EMPLOYMENT DURING ITS CONSTRUCTION AND WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE RIPPLE EFFECTS DURING THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT.

FOR THOSE WHO WERE RELOCATED, GOVERNMENT PROVIDED THEM WITH BETTER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES. THIS COMPLETELY CHANGED THEIR LIVES AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT GOVERNMENT ALSO IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR SULUTANE PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL SHOULD LOOK AFTER THESE FACILITIES AND KEEP THEM IN GOOD CONDITION FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION.

WE, THEREFORE, WISH TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF MALINDZA FOR THEIR COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT DURING THIS EXERCISE.

THE COMMUNITY OF MALINDZA IS ENCOURAGED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE EMPLOYEES OF THE AIRPORT.

THESE FACILITIES NEED TO BE KEPT IN A GOOD STATE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT IS OUR MIRROR TO THE WORLD. ALL OUR VISITORS WILL COME THROUGH THIS AIRPORT – YOU ARE THE ENTRY POINT TO THE KINGDOM.

WE, THEREFORE, URGE ALL CONCERNED TO PORTRAY A GOOD IMAGE OF THE AIRPORT AT ALL TIMES. EVERY HOMESTEAD SHOULD LOOK AFTER THEIR ANIMALS AND KEEP THE ENVIRONMENT CLEAN.

 

RATIONAL FOR BUILDING THE NEW AIRPORT

THE NATION WILL KNOW THAT THE COUNTRY HAD SOME LIMITATIONS IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF AIRCRAFTS COMING TO THE KINGDOM IN MATSAPHA.

THIS NEW AIRPORT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE WIDE BODY AIRCRAFTS.THIS WILL OPEN AN INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY FOR AIRLINES OF THE WORLD TO LAND IN OUR KINGDOM SINCE THE RUNWAY AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ARE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

THE TERRAIN IN MATSAPHA IS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR SOME AIRCRAFTS TO LAND.

THE NEW SITE HAS AMPLE SPACE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE SIZE OF THE AIRPORT AND THE LAND AVAILABLE IN THE PERIPHERALS OF THIS FACILITY CAN MEET REQUIREMENT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

I WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE COMPONENTS OF THE AIRPORT MEET ALL THE STANDARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS.

THE AIRPORT CAN ALSO HANDLE CARGO AND A HUGE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS WHO ARE TRANSITING TO OTHER DESTINATIONS IN THE REGION, CONTINENT AND THE WORLD. THE AIRPORT WILL PROVIDE DIRECT ACCESS TO ESWATINI FOR PEOPLE AND GOODS.

WE THEREFORE CHALLENGE ALL EXISTING AND POTENTIAL EXPORT ORIENTED COMPANIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE LAUNCH TODAY.

THE AIRPORT SHOULD MAXIMISE THE POTENTIAL POSITIVE SPINOFFS IN THE FOLLOWING SECTORS: THE INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORT SECTORS - IN THE FORM OF MANUFACTURING AND THE TRANSPORTATION OF RAW MATERIALS INTO ESWATINI AND FINISHED PRODUCTS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS ALSO BEEN WELL CATERED FOR WITHIN A FIVE KILOMETRE RADIUS WHERE LAND HAS BEEN DEMARCATED AND DECLARED A BUSINESS AREA FOR EASE OF TRADE.

THE TOURISM SECTOR WILL STIMULATE NEW VISITORS INTO THE COUNTRY THROUGH DIRECT FLIGHTS TO AND FROM ESWATINI TO IMPORTANT DESTINATIONS.

PEACE AND STABILITY

WE CAN ATTRACT AIRLINES TO USE OUR AIRPORT BY MAKING SURE THAT A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT PREVAILS IN THE COUNTRY AS PEACE AND STABILITY REMAIN A KEY CATALYST FOR ATTRACTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT.

LET US MAKE OUR FACILITY A PREFERRED AIRPORT BY AIRLINES OF THE WORLD. WE NEED TO GIVE IT A UNIQUE IDENTITY WHICH BLENDS OUR CULTURE AND MODERNITY TO CREATE THAT WORLD CLASS FIRST AND LASTING IMPRESSION FOR OUR VISITORS.

IT SHOULD MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SAFETY, BE HIGHLY EFFICIENT IN ALL SERVICES PROVIDED WHILE OFFERING A FEEL-GOOD FACTOR THAT WILL HAVE THE TOURISTS COMING BACK HERE TIME AND AGAIN.

WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS BY MAKING SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE TRANSIT OR VISIT OUR KINGDOM WE LOOK AFTER THEM PROFESSIONALLY.

 

FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE EMPLOYED AT THE AIRPORT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PORTRAY A GOOD IMAGE AND AVOID THINGS THAT WILL DISCREDIT OUR AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT SHOULD NEVER BE USED FOR ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

CONCLUSION

THE DESIRE TO POSITION OURSELVES AS A FIRST WORLD COUNTRY COMES WITH A LOT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SACRIFICE.

BY VIRTUE OF HAVING BUILT THIS AIRPORT WE HAVE NOW PLACED OURSELVES IN COMPETITION WITH THE TOP TEN AIRPORTS IN AFRICA, FOUR OF WHICH ARE IN OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRY.

THIS IS PROOF THAT THE REGION IS AN IDEAL DESTINATION FOR TRADE AND TOURISM WHICH WE MUST AGGRESSIVELY TAP INTO AND CLAIM A SIZEABLE STAKE.

I, THEREFORE, CHALLENGE THE NATION AND ALL ARMS OF GOVERNMENT TO PROFITABLY UTILISE THIS FACILITY THROUGH STRATEGIES THAT SHOULD INCLUDE DEVELOPING EXPORT FREE ZONES TO PROMOTE JOBS AND MANUFACTURING FOR EXPORT.

THIS REQUIRES A NATION OF UNITED VISIONARY MEN AND WOMEN. WE NEED TO BUILD A FORTRESS AROUND THIS VISION IN ORDER FOR US TO ACHIEVE THIS NATIONAL GOAL.

AT THIS JUNCTURE MAY WE THANK ALL THE PEOPLE AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO ASSISTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS STATE OF THE ART PROJECT.

THIS INCLUDES THE MALINDZA COMMUNITY, THE MAIN CONTRACTORS AND THEIR SUB CONTRACTORS, THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM OF ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS AND THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT AND OTHERS.

WE ALSO THANK ALL THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATIONS OF THIS HISTORIC EVENT. OUR ACCOLADES ALSO GO TO THOSE WHO PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT.

DECLARATION

IT IS NOW MY SINGULAR HONOUR TO DECLARE THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OFFICIALLY OPENED.