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By Musa Simelane | 2025-02-01
In a major boost for Eswatini’s elderly population, His Majesty King Mswati III has announced that social grants for senior citizens will be increased in the coming financial year to help them cope with the rising cost of living.
The grant will be increased from E500 per month to a yet to be determined figure.
The king emphasised that taking care of vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, was a national duty that must be prioritised.
"Due to inflationary issues and the burden often experienced by elderly persons, their grants will be increased this coming fiscal year," he declared.
The decision to increase elderly grants is expected to alleviate financial strain on thousands of senior citizens, many of whom depend solely on these stipends for survival.
The rising cost of food, healthcare and basic necessities has made life increasingly difficult for older Emaswati, prompting the government to take action.
The king urged families and communities to honour their responsibility to care for the elderly, stressing that they should not be abandoned or left to struggle alone.
Beyond elderly grants, His Majesty also highlighted several ongoing initiatives to protect and support Eswatini’s most vulnerable populations, including: cash transfers for persons with disabilities, ensuring they receive financial support; efforts to trace children and parents who have neglected their duty, reinforcing family responsibility; government and private sector partnerships to provide affordable housing, recognising that decent shelter is a basic necessity for all.
Preventing the development of slums by ensuring vulnerable Emaswati receive proper social assistance.
"Urgent attention needs to be given to avoid emerging slums in the future. We must provide necessary social assistance and care to ensure vulnerable Emaswati do not grow up in these areas," His Majesty stated.
vulnerable
The king’s announcement signals a strong commitment to improving the lives of the elderly and other vulnerable groups. As Eswatini moves forward, it is believed that the increased grants will serve as a much-needed relief for the elderly, allowing them to live with dignity and security in their golden years.
Meanwhile, there was pure jubilation among lawmakers on the announcement of the increase in grants.
The call for increased grants has been going on for the last two to three years as the cost of living continues to escalate.
Acting Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, in response to the announcement said sikhuta lwandle (we expressively show appreciation).
“We have received a royal command, which is very clear to all. What remains now is to start working towards fulfilment of the command.
The issue of the elderly is one that government kept in mind and now. Cabinet has received the royal blessing to effect some positive changes,” said Mkhonta-Simelane, who mainly serves as minister of tourism and environmental affairs.
Acting DPM said Cabinet would sit and discuss as to how much government could afford to raise the elderly grant.
The elderly grant is supposed to be provided to all citizens of Eswatini once they have reached the age of 60 years.
With about 69 697 beneficiaries, this grant is by far the biggest social cash transfer programme in Eswatini.
...Makes call for affordable healthcare for all
His Majesty King Mswati III has made a powerful call for universal healthcare access, emphasising that no Liswati should be turned away from receiving medical treatment due to lack of resources.
The king stressed that affordable healthcare was a fundamental right and should be accessible to all citizens, regardless of their financial situation.
"Life is for everyone despite one’s affordability. Services must be availed to all at all times," His Majesty declared.
As part of the country’s healthcare transformation, the king urged government to establish minimum standards for all hospitals and clinics.
This, he said, would ensure that every health facility was equipped with essential medical equipment and supplies, a steady stock of life-saving drugs and proper infrastructure to cater to all patients.
“The good health of our nation is integral to our development. While the country has programmes in the health sector, we need to improve on providing an affordable healthcare, which caters for all Emaswati,” he stated.
These improvements will help prevent situations where patients are turned away due to shortages in medication or equipment, reinforcing the commitment to healthcare as a national priority.
Though the king acknowledged Eswatini’s success in curbing HIV and AIDS, but raised concern over the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
To address this, he reaffirmed the nation’s anticipation for the new referral hospital, which will include a fully-fledged cancer treatment facility. However, he called for immediate action to put in place regulations and laws that allow radiation therapy for chemotherapy within the country.
"We need to put in place regulations and permissive laws around issues of radiation for chemotherapy that will allow Emaswati to benefit from this treatment locally," the king stated.
The king also emphasised the need for Eswatini to establish pharmaceutical industries to locally manufacture and supply medication, instead of relying on costly imports.
Speeding up this process would ensure consistent availability of drugs in health facilities, reduce dependency on foreign pharmaceutical companies and create jobs and strengthen the country’s health sector.
As Eswatini moves forward with its year of transformation, His Majesty’s call to prioritise affordable healthcare and strengthen medical services reflects a bold vision for a healthier and more resilient nation.
He commended efforts made by government in ensuring that drugs have been distributed and made available in different health facilities.
King calls for ‘buy local initiative’ support
His Majesty has renewed calls for Emaswati to support local businesses through the buy local initiative.
He said economic empowerment started with supporting home-grown enterprises.
The king stressed that local businesses are the backbone of the nation’s economy and should be given priority in both public and private sector procurement.
"It is vital that we promote and support local products and services to strengthen our economy and create more jobs for our people," His Majesty stated.
The buy local initiative is seen as a key driver of economic sustainability in Eswatini.
By prioritising local products and services, the nation can: retain wealth within the country, reduce dependence on imports and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are essential for job creation.
It can also lead to an enhanced industrial growth and self-sufficiency, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture. And also, it stands to foster national pride by encouraging citizens to take ownership of their economy.
The king urged both government institutions and private businesses to actively support local suppliers. He called for policies that prioritise local procurement and ensure that government spending benefits Emaswati first.
support
"Our businesses need support to grow and that support must start with us," His Majesty declared.
Beyond institutional support, the king encouraged citizens to embrace local brands and recognise the value of consuming locally produced goods.
With Eswatini aiming for economic transformation and self-reliance, it is deemed that the success of the buy local initiative will play a crucial role in ensuring that national wealth remains within the country and directly benefits Emaswati.
Government must prioritise local contractors in projects
Government has been tasked to ensure meaningful participation of local contractors in major infrastructure projects.
His Majesty King Mswati III strongly emphasised that development should directly benefit Emaswati. As the country embarks on multi-billion emalangeni projects, including the Mpakeni Dam, new Parliament, Lubombo and Shiselweni roads and energy and mining initiatives, he said local businesses must not be side-lined in favour of foreign companies.
"We call upon the government to ensure that local contractors participate meaningfully in these projects so that the people and the local economy derive tangible benefits beyond the new infrastructure," His Majesty stated.
With the construction of a Parliamentarians’ Village in partnership with the private sector, the king’s call highlights the need for local firms to gain a foothold in large-scale developments. This participation would not only create jobs and build skills but also enhance the capacity of Eswatini’s construction sector for future projects.
His Majesty’s remarks come at a time when local contractors have often struggled to secure major government tenders, facing stiff competition from larger, international firms.
By ensuring a fair and transparent procurement process, government can empower local businesses and retain a larger share of project investments within the country.
The king’s directive underscores the broader national goal of economic inclusivity and sustainable development.
As Eswatini invests in critical infrastructure, ensuring that local contractors play a key role will boost employment, support SMEs and strengthen the country’s overall economic resilience.
Protect citizens from dubious financial schemes - King
His Majesty King Mswati III has called on the Central Bank of Eswatini to double its efforts in safeguarding citizens’ finances from fraudulent financial schemes.
The emphasis was on the need for strict enforcement against those engaging in such crimes.
He commended the Central Bank for its role in strengthening the country’s financial system and ensuring economic stability.
However, he stressed that financial security must go beyond monetary policies and extend to protecting the public from scams and unscrupulous investment schemes.
"The bank must ensure that those responsible for such crimes face the full might of the law," His Majesty declared, urging financial institutions to remain vigilant in protecting people’s hard-earned money.
The king’s remarks come at a time when Eswatini’s economy is showing signs of strong recovery and growth. In November 2024, global credit rating agency Moody’s upgraded the country’s credit rating from B3 to B2 with a positive outlook, citing economic and institutional reforms, fiscal consolidation and monetary policy discipline as key factors behind the improvement.
This upgrade is expected to boost investor confidence and attract more foreign investment into the country.
His Majesty acknowledged the Central Bank’s effective administration of the Revenue Stabilisation Fund and its sound policy advice to the government as crucial factors in this achievement.
A major milestone for the banking sector is the recent launch of the first phase of the national payment switch Project.
This initiative is set to enhance the efficiency and speed of electronic transactions, modernise national payment system and promote financial inclusion for Emaswati.
"We are pleased that the bank has taken this step to advance our financial system, making transactions safer and more accessible," the king stated.
He further praised the Central Bank for being shortlisted for the Global Banking & Markets Africa Awards 2025, an indication of its growing regional and international recognition.
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