Swazi Observer

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ESWATINI MUST BE A GLOBAL LEADER IN ICT – MINISTER

By NOMFANELO MAZIYA | 2024-12-13

As the “Government in Your Hand” programme accelerates the digital transformation of various entities in Eswatini, Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Savannah Maziya has issued a bold call for the nation to emerge as a global leader in the ICT sector.

The “Government in Your Hand” programme, a central pillar of the Eswatini Digitalisation Strategy (2024-2028), aims to revolutionise public services through digital innovation.
By leveraging technology, the government seeks to improve efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for citizens.

One entity that has rapidly embraced digital transformation is the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), by digitising tax collection, registration, and other processes, ERS is streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery.

Minister Maziya’s vision for Eswatini as a global ICT leader is ambitious but achievable.
By embracing digital innovation and investing in infrastructure and human capital, the country can position itself as a regional tech hub and attract international investment, according to Maziya.

Making her keynote address during the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Digitalisation Roadmap Symposium, yesterday under the theme “Digitalised and data-driven with our partners”, the minister emphasised the transformative potential of technology and its ability to drive economic growth and improve the lives of citizens.

“If we can be the people who declare ourselves the best digitalised country in the world, we will become the place where anything is possible in the ICT space,” said Maziya.
benefits

If Eswatini could be the country where anything can happen in the ICT space, ‘this can bring in big players to partner with us’.

Furthermore, the country could become a leading financial services hub in Africa in the ICT sector, according to the minister. "We can then use that for our food security and other benefits."

She highlighted that one of the truly exciting aspects of digitisation was the convenience it brought.

“By converging every single government service and minimising human interaction, we can accelerate government processes, attract the desired businesses, and grow small businesses into larger entities,” said Maziya.

The minister further highlighted that the ‘Government, in your hands’ programme at first, was a regular situation but now government was investing in expanding and upgrading the country's network infrastructure, including rolling out programmes to connect rural areas and key institutions like schools and clinics.

“We want to be able to say we will introduce a digital ID that will encrypt your health information, along with your tax number, and other relevant data,” she said. The introduction of a digital ID system would integrate essential information such as tax numbers, health records, and more.

This would further streamline government services and improve healthcare delivery. The government aims to foster a thriving ICT ecosystem by supporting startups, incubators, and innovation hubs.

interaction
“By converging every single government service and minimising human interaction, we can accelerate government processes, attract the desired businesses, and grow small businesses into larger entities,” said Maziya.

The minister further emphasised on the immense potential of a digitally connected population.

“Imagine what we can do with 1.3 million people.
If we can be the people who say we will be the best digitalised country in the world, we will be the country where anything can happen in the ICT space."

The minister also highlighted the importance of digital sovereignty and the need to avoid technological dependence on other nations.

By developing its own technological capabilities, Eswatini can shape its own future and avoid being constrained by the agendas of others.

“We also need to understand that by leading the way, we will no longer need to consume her people’s technologies which will eventually end up enslaving us and putting us in a position where we are not growing in the direction that we wish to grow in,” said Maziya

The minister called for collaboration between government, the private sector, and citizens to realise this vision.

They emphasised on the importance of partnerships and shared responsibility in driving digital transformation.

"We cannot run away from the fact that we will be a technology-driven country, so how can we be able to collaborate together to get to a point where it is a win-win?" the minister asked.

She commended ERS's digitalisation efforts, saying, "All of this truly culminates in a country that is economically focused, needs to grow its economy, and is serious about the future."
ERS Governing Board acting Chairperson Prince Lusekwane acknowledged the dedication and foresight of the ERS management and staff in driving projects and innovations that have already yielded positive results.

He praised the team for their efforts in improving efficiency, enhancing client experiences, and laying the foundation for the organisation's transformative agenda.

The event served as a platform to unveil the ERS's digital products and solutions aligned with its 2024-2027 Strategy.

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