Manzini – Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, has encouraged young people to embrace humility, kindness, generosity, and integrity as guiding principles for leadership.
Speaking during the Future Pioneers STEM Mentorship Programme for the Youth at the Metropolitan Evangelical Church in Manzini, Maziya reminded the youth that true leadership goes beyond titles and positions.
“If you want to become an effective leader, the higher you go in your career, the lower you should go in humility. That way, you can maintain a genuine connection with the people you are leading,” she said.
The minister highlighted that kindness and fairness were essential traits for leadership, stressing that young people should learn to treat everyone equally. She further advised them to be generous, noting that people will remember deeds more than words.
“We have lost so much integrity as a country. It is now upon you as young people to restore it by bringing back honesty and kindness,” she said.
Maziya also drew a distinction between secure and insecure leaders. According to her, secure leaders mentor and guide others, while insecure ones hoard information and discourage growth. She urged the youth to become secure leaders who build others instead of tearing them down.
Guidance on Workplace and Personal Growth
The minister advised the youth to choose their associations wisely, disassociating themselves from peers who add no value. She also stressed that the workplace should be seen as a delivery space rather than a place to build cliques.
She encouraged young people to present themselves well, saying appearance matters in opportunities:
“Thirty percent of people who look presentable usually get the deal, not because they are the smartest, but because they look the part,” she said.
Maziya urged the youth to maintain a positive mindset, warning that negative thoughts could derail their success. “The mind doesn’t know whether you are rich or poor, healthy or sick, but it responds to what you feed it,” she explained.
She also cautioned them against competing with others, reminding them that the only real competition is with oneself.
Encouraging the youth to plan their lives, Maziya said success requires intentionality. She revealed that from as early as five years old, she knew she wanted to live well and made financial discipline part of her journey.
She shared her personal savings rule, stating: “Up to this day, I still live on 30% of my salary. I may look like a spender, but I am not. I won’t waste money.”
The minister emphasized the importance of saving, investing, and understanding money before pursuing new ventures. “Money is energy, it needs a growth and investment plan. Study how money works before starting a job or project,” she advised.
On another note, Maziya revealed that the ministry is working to ensure social media influencers and content creators in Eswatini are compensated fairly for their work.
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