Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini described the launch of the government’s 5G network and Mbabane Smart City Project as a fitting 57th birthday gift for His Majesty King Mswati III. The remarks came during the official handover of the E38 million project at the Mbabane Municipal Council on Wednesday morning.
The initiative, funded by the Republic of China (Taiwan), introduces a high-tech control centre and real-time surveillance infrastructure in the capital. It is expected to be rolled out in other towns including Manzini, Matsapha, Nhlangano, and Siteki.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister said the project marked a major step toward Eswatini’s vision of becoming a digitally empowered society. “With the deployment of this 5G network—offering unprecedented speed, reliability, and capacity—we are laying a solid foundation for real-time data processing and connectivity, essential for any smart society,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the collaboration with Taiwan had enabled the swift delivery of the project, which was commissioned just a year ago, on 14 May 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane.
Along with enhanced public safety and surveillance, the project includes additional innovations such as water and weather sensors along the Mbabane River and free public Wi-Fi, designed to improve disaster readiness and promote digital inclusion.
Dlamini praised Taiwan’s role in supporting the project and acknowledged the alignment with His Majesty’s “Nkwe” directive for national development. “Of all the gifts he may receive, this one—symbolising innovation, progress, and shared vision—will surely stand out,” he said.
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