Mbabane – Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Savannah Maziya, urged EmaSwati to welcome the partnership with tech giant Google and dismiss rumours suggesting the US-based company intends to steal national data.
Speaking during the launch of the Eswatini Coders Programme at the Ministry earlier today, Maziya acknowledged public concerns but reassured citizens that Google’s presence in the kingdom is safe and strategic.
“Google is a top-five global company with a market capitalisation of $2.5 trillion. They would not risk that by stealing information,” she said. “Their business model is built on securing data, not compromising it.”
The Minister said the collaboration boosts Eswatini’s international credibility, attracting major investors and validating the kingdom as a trustworthy partner. She noted that the Google partnership will create broader economic benefits, including the upcoming Google Academy, which will provide advanced training opportunities for EmaSwati.
Maziya cautioned that spreading unfounded accusations could undermine these vital relationships and hinder future investment. “Let’s treat Google and other partners with respect and operate on the principle of innocent until proven guilty,” she said.
The Minister added that this partnership will pave the way for smaller tech companies to establish themselves in Eswatini, fostering a growing technology ecosystem and supporting the work of the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA).
“Google is here to partner with us so we can grow,” Maziya said. “This is a starting point for the kingdom to act like the big country we aspire to be.”
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