Swazi Observer

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PM ANNOUNCES SIX NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEES TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

By ZWELETHU DLAMINI | 2020-03-20

Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini yesterday announced the national emergency management coordination structure which comprises of three committees.

These are: the Ministerial Emergency Management Committee (cabinet sub-committee), The National Emergency Management Task Force both headed by his deputy and four Regional Committees led by the four regional administrators.

“Following the command by His Majesty King Mswati III to declare the outbreak of coronavirus as a national emergency, government has extensively consulted to roll-out the relevant structures that will implement the national emergency plan.

These include a National Emergency Management Committee that will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku and a National Emergency Task team that will operationalise the implementation of the response plans,” Dlamini announced.

The premier said Masuku would chair the Ministerial Emergency Management Committee. The committee comprises of Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenburg, Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr. Thambo Gina, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi, Minister of Commerce Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza, Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David Ngcamphalala, Minister of Tourism and Environment al Affairs Moses Vilakati, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Peter Bhembe and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla.

Stated

The prime minister stated that the members of the national emergency management committee are tasked with the responsibility of coordinating national and regional emergency management measures at cabinet level, providing oversight of the National Emergency Management Task Force and to act as the interface between government and the international community regarding emergency management and assistance matters.

Dlamini also announced the National Emergency Management Task Force which has 28 members representing different government ministries, departments and non-governmental organisations. “Government has furthermore appointed a National Emergency Task Force comprising of members of different sectors of society to implement national and regional emergency plans and procedures, and coordinate preparedness and response activities,” he said.

These include the Army commander, national commissioner of police, commissioner general of His Majesty's Correctional Services, CANGO, director of health services and World Health Organisation representative, Red Cross Society, National Disaster Management, UNICEF and many more.

Other duties of the Task Team include establishing and directing the policy of the National Emergency Management secretariat with respect to planning, organising, equipment, training, administration and operations.

The team is also tasked with enlisting suitable persons to be volunteers in the coronavirus response, inspecting at regular intervals, mobilising resources for preparedness and response activity. They will also mount multi-organisational exercises as may be necessary to test emergency plans and procedures. Additionally, the premier said there would be regional committees to be chaired by regional administrators and various sector committees that will coordinate the response and implementation plan.

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