MBABANE – Government has set its sights on accelerating digital transformation, with the ICT Ministry outlining an ambitious roadmap to drive economic growth and good governance through technology.
Speaking yesterday at the UN Building in Mbabane during the launch of the Eswatini Economic Update, Minister of Information, Communications and Technology Savannah Maziya said digital reform was no longer a choice but a necessity for national progress. The event was hosted by the Government of Eswatini in collaboration with the World Bank and drew key players from government, the diplomatic corps, and international development agencies.
Minister Maziya was joined by her counterparts, Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg and Economic Planning Minister Dr. Tambo Gina, along with the World Bank Resident Representative.
During her keynote, the minister outlined Eswatini’s Digital Transformation Strategy, describing it as a vehicle for inclusive growth, innovation, job creation, and improved public service delivery.
She presented a multi-pronged plan focused on regulatory frameworks, infrastructure rollout, service digitisation, human capital development, and international partnerships.
Maziya listed four key legislative proposals aimed at regulating the fast-evolving tech space—namely the Cybersecurity Bill, Critical Infrastructure Bill, RSTP Bill, and E-Commerce Strategy. She also revealed government plans to develop future-ready laws covering artificial intelligence, robotics, space, and satellite governance.
The minister noted that fibre optic deployment was ongoing across the country, with World Bank support, while Eswatini’s international internet bandwidth had increased from 47 Gbps to 72 Gbps. She also pointed to the planned construction of a Smart City in Mbabane, which would feature 5G access, 59 AI-powered cameras, and free public Wi-Fi.
Under the “Government in Your Hand” initiative, over 11 services have gone digital, including scholarship applications, business registration, trade licensing, and driver’s licence renewals. She said government is targeting 90 more digital services over the next three years.
On human capital, Maziya said government had prioritised ICT training for rural teachers, MPs, and more than 100 girls in space tech. She also referenced global partnerships with India, the UAE, and Google for digital certifications, and a nationwide coding programme targeting over 300,000 citizens.
She warned that failure to act could leave Eswatini digitally irrelevant in a competitive world and urged for continued government support and private sector backing.
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