The Ministry of ICT’s Department of Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) hosted the first day of the Stakeholder Validation Session for the review of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and the combined 4IR and 5IR Strategy on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
The Principal Secretary, who represented the ministry, said: “We gather today not merely to discuss documents, but to celebrate a milestone that brings us closer to the realization of our aspirations as a first-world nation.” He added: “Engaging with the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions transcends the mere adoption of new tools. It requires a total re-engineering of our systems to foster a productive, vibrant, and human-centric economy.”
Welcoming stakeholders, RSTI Director Dr Maseko said: “The National STI Policy and the Combined 4IR and 5IR Strategy are more than just administrative documents; they are the architectural drawings for a new Eswatini.” She added: “Technology must serve humanity, not the other way around.”
Dr Maseko reminded participants that the session aimed at ownership, saying: “We have brought the draft back to its architects, you. We need you to poke holes, refine the edges, and ensure that these strategies are practical, scalable, and inclusive.”
The Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre presented on the STI Policy review process and strategic pillars. Dr Maseko closed the day by outlining that Day 2 will feature group presentations based on discussions from the first day, leading to the validation of the 4IR and 5IR Strategy.
Discussion about this post