MBABANE – The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has gathered senior leaders for a four day Cabinet Retreat at the Royal Villas Hotel under the theme “Transforming Eswatini Through Effective Execution,” in what is being described as a strategic reset at the centre of government.
The meeting, which began this week in Ezulwini, brings together Cabinet Ministers and development partners to reflect on national priorities, delivery systems and accountability. The retreat is designed as a facilitated leadership engagement to strengthen collective ownership, tighten execution discipline and improve coordination across ministries.
The United Nations Development Programme in Eswatini, working through its Regional Service Centre for Africa, is providing technical support and facilitation. The agency is drawing from regional and global experience in delivery systems, adaptive leadership and performance management to guide discussions.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at UNDP, is expected to join the retreat virtually tomorrow. Other United Nations participants include representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Resident Coordinator from Rwanda, signalling broader continental input into the deliberations.
Speaking during the official opening, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini said Cabinet expects experts to challenge their thinking and support the mindset change required for national transformation. He noted that the country is not short of policy direction.
“Our challenge today is no longer the absence of plans, but the quality, speed and discipline of execution,” he said.
The Prime Minister pointed to existing planning instruments such as the Programme of Action, the Grand Plan of National Transformation and the National Development Plan as evidence that frameworks are already in place. According to him, the current focus is on translating these plans into measurable results within set timeframes.
The retreat is also creating room for frank discussions on fiscal constraints, unemployment, service delivery pressures and rising citizen expectations. Cabinet is expected to align around a focused set of priorities covering the next 12 to 36 months.
UN Resident Coordinator George Wachira said the participation of experts from across the UN system enriches the engagement with both regional and global perspectives, while reinforcing the UN’s partnership with Eswatini.
“Together, I am confident that we will approach these discussions with a broad strategic lens, shaping insights that enable practical, locally grounded responses to the evolving context,” he said.
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