Swazi Observer

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MAJESTY, TRADITION, A VISION FOR FUTURE

By Musa Simelane | 2025-02-01

The nation’s attention was firmly on Lobamba yesterday as His Majesty King Mswati III officially opened the Second Session of the 12th Parliament.

The air was thick with anticipation and a touch of summer heat as the kingdom was about to receive a clear vision from the Speech from the Throne. Parliament, within and outside the vicinity, was alive with activity, with guests arriving early, dressed in their finest attire, eager to be part of this momentous occasion.

Inside the grand chamber (House of Assembly), excitement crackled in the air. Large monitors had been set up to ensure all legislators and distinguished guests could follow the proceedings outside in real-time.

So when the king arrived and was about to come into the chamber, everyone knew. The unity of the moment when the Hes Majesty walked in was palpable, as all eyes followed every movement of his, eager to finally hear his vision for the country in 2025.

From the stately entrance of Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, setting the stage for the day, to the grand arrival of His Majesty just after 12:30pm, every moment carried a weight of tradition and purpose.

Inside, before the king even uttered a word, his regal presence commanded the attention of the gathered dignitaries, lawmakers, and citizens alike. He greeted the gathering with his signature royal wave, before taking his seat, after the singing of the national anthem.

Meanwhile, outside the chamber, despite the sweltering heat, the atmosphere was no less electric. A massive, air-conditioned marquee had been set up for the public, equipped with giant projectors broadcasting the event live.

The cool breeze inside allowed attendees to watch in comfort, and they soaked in every word and moment with deep reverence.

As His Majesty began his speech from the Throne, the room fell into an attentive silence, hanging onto every word. He spoke of transformation, economic resilience, and national unity, setting the tone for a year of progress.

But it was not just a speech, it was a conversation with the nation.
At several key moments, the silence would break as attendees, both inside and outside, shouted ‘Bayethe!’ in unison, affirming their support for the king’s vision as he unpacked it.

One of the most notable cheers erupted when the king announced the increase in elderly grants in the next fiscal year, a move that was met with deep appreciation in and outside the chamber.
carried

The king’s address lasted a little over an hour, yet every minute carried weight and significance. As he neared his conclusion, he invited the chamber into a moving moment of unity and faith, leading a ‘repeat-after-me’ prayer.

His steady voice guided the chamber in a collective declaration that without the Lord one is blind, incompetent, insufficient and incapable. It was a moment that transcended politics—a reminder of Eswatini’s shared journey and faith in the Lord.

Then, with an air of finality, His Majesty declared the Second Session of the 12th Parliament officially opened. A final royal wave and a warm knowing smile marked his departure, leaving behind an atmosphere charged with renewed hope, purpose, and deter-mination.

As the doors of Parliament closed behind him, it was clear this was not just an opening, but the beginning of a transformative new chapter for Eswatini.

King asks for prudent fiscal management

As Eswatini’s economy shows signs of strong growth, His Majesty King Mswati III has urged government to adopt prudent fiscal management to safeguard national finances and sustain development.

The king highlighted the economic resilience and projected 8.3 per cent GDP growth for 2025, nearly doubling the 4.9 per cent recorded in 2024. However, he warned that this positive outlook must not lead to complacency, particularly in light of the 20.4 per cent decline in SACU receipts a critical revenue source for the country.

mindful
"As we embark on our national plans for the New Year, we must be mindful of the decrease in SACU receipts and the impact this will have on our development agenda amid rising socio-economic needs," the king cautioned.

His Majesty stressed that government must prioritise spending and efficiently utilise the Revenue Stabilisation Fund to cushion against fiscal shocks.

He emphasised the urgency of diversifying the economy to reduce reliance on SACU revenues and external shocks, including geopolitical tensions and climate change.

While Eswatini’s economic outlook is promising, His Majesty’s message was clear: “Growth must be sustained through responsible financial management, efficient allocation of resources and strategic planning”.

King wants 100% electrification

Eswatini has made significant progress in energy access, with 88 per cent of households now connected to the national electricity grid.

However, His Majesty King Mswati III has set an ambitious target of achieving full electrification across the country well ahead of the global universal energy goal of 2030.

The king emphasised that while the 88 per cent milestone was commendable, the ultimate goal remained 100 per cent electrification countrywide.

households
"The nation will be pleased to know that government has now connected 88 per cent of households to the national grid. While this is notable progress, the ultimate goal is to reach 100 per cent countrywide well ahead of the universal energy target of 2030," His Majesty declared.

He reaffirmed that sustainable energy was a key driver of Eswatini’s economic growth and resilience. He highlighted that expanding access to electricity would unlock new opportunities in education, healthcare, business, and industrialisation sectors that heavily rely on stable and affordable power supply.

With energy security being a national priority, His Majesty called on the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) to work closely with investors to accelerate the transition towards alternative and renewable energy sources.

To achieve energy self-sufficiency, the king encouraged the country to diversify its power generation capacity beyond the national grid by investing in coal energy, leveraging local resources for power production, biomass energy, utilising organic waste for sustainable electricity and solar energy, where Eswatini’s abundant sunlight is harnessed for clean power generation.

By embracing these solutions, Eswatini can reduce its dependency on energy imports, lower costs for consumers, and ensure uninterrupted power supply for households, businesses, and industries.

To fast-track full electrification, His Majesty urged greater collaboration between government, private sector, and international investors.

Such partnerships will help finance large-scale energy projects and expand the country’s electricity grid into the most remote and underserved areas.

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