Swazi Observer

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PM THANKS CABINET, NATION FOR PEACE

By SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO | 2025-01-22

Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has expressed gratitude to Cabinet ministers and the nation for maintaining peace in the country.

Appreciating and acknowledging the contributions, the prime minister said peace was priceless and something that all must desire and continue to strive for and also thanked God.

Making his remarks before the start of Cabinet’s retreat to last until at Friday at Royal Villas Hotel yesterday, the premier said they heeded the calls from His Majesty the King and Sibaya for government to get closer to the people.

He said this continued to characterise the operations of the current administration.
“We commend ministers who have been closer to the people in communities. To that end, many communities have been visited, and Emaswati engaged at different levels, gaining first-hand experience of the challenges they face, with interventions delivered in many instances,” he said.

The premier expressed anticipation for the completion of the decentralisation legislation, which would streamline government interventions and bring services closer to the people.

He highlighted that government during the course of the first year, developed and launched an ambitious Programme of Action and Policy Statement.

He stated that implementation of the Programme of Action had already commenced, prioritising government-led exponential economic growth, a mindset change for national transformation, and an efficient public service geared towards service delivery.

“Food sovereignty, infrastructure development, and energy are key components of the Policy Statement and Programme of Action, remaining critical catalysts for economic development and indicators of progress,” said the premier, underscoring that formulation of the Grand Plan was progressing well and expected to be completed within the year.

He reiterated that power generation was a catalyst for economic growth, adding that government had already issued contracts for power generation, which would result in an initial increase to 198MW.

However, to promote industrialisation, he emphasised that the country required a minimum base load of 1 000MW and revealed that government continued to engage partners and private companies interested in investing in power generation.

The prime minister further stated that the process of establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund would be completed by the end of this fiscal year.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund, according to the prime minister, should be able to cushion the nation and stabilise the country’s economy while generating wealth for future generations.

He said it was a proven fact that countries with established Sovereign Wealth Funds achieved exponential economic growth for the benefit of their nations.

Furthermore, he mentioned that government had approved the upgrading of 483km of roads from unpaved to paved standards, with the ministry of public works and transport working on sourcing funds for this project.

He went on to state that the current government would continue to invest in road infrastructure, welcoming proposals from the private sector for innovative financing models to support infrastructure development, including roads.

This approach aligns with the Programme of Action, which encourages innovation in resource mobilisation by government, partners, and the private sector.

He affirmed that government would always be open to progressive ideas and feedback from the public to enhance its policies and plans.

The establishment of a Roads Agency was expected to spearhead the construction and maintenance of roads.
He further noted the significant participation in the recent Incwala ceremony, which attracted thousands, including dignitaries and a record number of tourists, adding that the passion demonstrated by the youth towards the monarchy and culture instilled hope for the future and was a moment of patriotism and great pride for Eswatini.

On another note, the prime minister mentioned that the country had recently faced the aftermath of one of the most severe rainfall in recent times, which left a trail of destruction, displacing many and damaging a significant amount of key infrastructure.

“The recent rains threatened national food security and undermined the investments made in infrastructure,” the prime minister said.

He noted that the government, supported by development partners, had swiftly responded to the disaster, with their agents on the ground offering assistance to affected Emaswati despite limited resources.

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The prime minister also revealed that Cabinet had approved the institutional housing project financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to the tune of E2.4 billion, which would prioritise police staff housing.

He expressed enthusiasm for the rollout of the institutional housing programme.

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