BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – His Majesty the King is pushing for improved service delivery to the nation.
For the second time in less than two years, the King has visited centres of excellence – in Rwanda and now in Azerbaijan – where government services are provided under one roof and delivered within seconds through technology and face-to-face contact.
In August 2024, His Majesty the King visited Irembo in Kigali, a government public enterprise which provides full online services to the nation by allowing citizens to submit requests for almost all government services at the press of a button.
The same is happening in Azerbaijan, where all government services – including marriages, which His Majesty also witnessed, renewal of drivers’ licences, notary services, issuance and renewal of identity cards and many other services – are offered online and/or face to face.
“As the delegation of Eswatini, we are so happy and delighted to visit this facility where many services are offered under one building. This is indeed good for any country which wants to implement the same, as it helps people receive services quickly and efficiently under one roof or through online services.
“We congratulate the government for providing such innovative services to the people and we are grateful that Eswatini will benefit from this facility by way of exchange programmes,” the King said.
His Majesty the King stated that he was happy to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Eswatini Government and ASAN, which was signed by ICT Minister Savannah Maziya.
The Ministry of ICT is currently driving the Government in Your Hand platform, through which emaSwati access some government services without needing to visit ministries physically.
The same is being done by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade through BOSS, the Business One Stop Shop, for individuals who want to acquire all services related to opening businesses in the Kingdom and obtaining trading licences.
The King visited this facility accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMashwama, Minister Maziya, Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Pholile Shakantu, Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe, Emazinyane, Libandla and King’s Office Chief Officer Chief Mgwagwa, King’s Private Secretary Mbongeni Simelane, Ambassador Sibu Mngomezulu, Ambassador Thamie Dlamini and others.
Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe said they were happy to see the kind of services offered by ASAN and noted that government is already on the path to offering similar services.
“We have started with BOSS at Commerce, where Home Affairs staff are also providing services, Government in Your Hand and the mopping exercises. Government, as already being shown by His Majesty the King, will soon be rolling out a similar service and we hope it can be sooner,” the Minister said.
The Minister further revealed that her main concern is to undertake reforms within the ministry that will see the introduction of new IDs, passports and improved systems to curb many of the loopholes currently facing the ministry.
“We aim to improve the quality of IDs so that individuals’ information is enhanced and further cut corruption and fraud, so that the systems can quickly detect who has issued what and when. We would be happy to have these changes before 2028 so that our election activities can also be enhanced and voter cheating avoided,” she said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently under siege from officials who are being corrupted to issue irregular documents to foreign nationals.
Whilst visiting the facility, His Majesty the King met with two Emaswati, Keith Henwin and Cannet Lennet, both from Manzini, who told him about their presence in Azerbaijan.
Keith said he came to study in Baku about six years ago and later found employment, while Lennet is still studying there.
Lennet said she was very excited about His Majesty’s visit to the centre and that the two countries have now formalised their ties and the many opportunities this will open for more Emaswati students.
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