Mbabane- The Municipal Council of Mbabane (MCM) has reaffirmed its commitment to transform into a fully-fledged smart city, leveraging technology to improve service delivery, safety, and citizens’ quality of life.
MCM Chief Executive Officer Gciniwe Fakudze made these sentiments during the council’s Annual General Meeting which was held at Mountain View.
“A smart city is one that works smarter, not harder,” Fakudze said. “We want Mbabane to be a place where technology makes life easier, safer, and more efficient for all.”
According to Fakudze, Mbabane has already deployed 57 real-time cameras across key intersections to enhance security and monitor traffic patterns. The cameras, powered by a 5G network backbone in partnership with the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), feed data directly into a newly established Smart City Control Centre at the municipal offices.
“These cameras do not just improve safety; they collect valuable traffic data that helps us plan better infrastructure,” Fakudze explained.
In addition, water sensors have been installed in local rivers to detect early flood risks, forming part of the city’s disaster risk reduction programme. “We are aiming for a Mbabane where residents can safely walk home at night with functioning streetlights and clean, well-maintained pavements,” she added.
Fakudze revealed that the municipality is preparing to launch digital service platforms that will allow residents to access municipal services through their mobile phones. She compared the concept to online banking, saying: “If your bank is in your hand, why can’t your government be in your hand too?”
Plans are also underway to introduce free public Wi-Fi hotspots, supported by the 5G network, with measures to encourage responsible internet use. “We want our young people to use free data for learning, research, and innovation, not just for TikTok,” she said
Mbabane’s smart city ambitions are being supported by international partners, including the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, who have provided technical expertise and funding worth about E55 million. Fakudze noted that none of these funds came from local ratepayers.
The capital also maintains a long-standing partnership with Fort Worth, Texas, under which eight Eswatini students travel to the United States annually for cultural and educational exchange programmes. “Over 20 years, that’s more than 160 young people whose lives have been changed by this partnership,” she said proudly.
Fakudze emphasized that Mbabane’s progress rests on strong governance and a united council. “We don’t have boardroom fights here,” she stated. “When councils are divided, development suffers but in Mbabane, our focus is on delivering results.”
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