KING ENDS YEAR ON HIGH NOTE

If numbers are the litmus test, the record attendance and the value of tetfulo at the country’s most important cultural event, Incwala, illustrate increasing support for His Majesty the King.

Riding on Sibaya 2023, where talk of peace and a determination to tackle the challenges generating nationwide division served as a ‘nkwe’ (fast-track) policy guideline for the new government, the King has maintained the reconciliatory posture he adopted at the national cattle byre. It must be said that this has garnered the monarchy significant support, amid conflict within the ranks of those opposed to our monarchical democracy. As we reflect on 2024 for the Head of State, it goes down as a year that drew him closer to his people for several reasons. Among these is his response to a stranger’s plea for a job from the crowd during one of the King’s unusually frequent visits to the business community this year.

She was assisted in securing employment, and he went above and beyond to build a house for her. The monarch went on to live up to his reputation as a king who speaks no lies, ‘umlomo longacali manga,’ by honouring his pledge to visit Etjendlovu School, which produced the pupils who made the country proud by winning a SADC essay writing competition.
He not only graced the community with a visit but also provided them with additional educational and employment opportunities.

During the tour, he expressed his wish to see the quality of education in the country improve to the point where students and graduates can compete with the finest in the world. Being in touch with the people is an important trait for any leader, and the King demonstrated this principle at the Eswatini International Trade Fair by visiting each exhibitor’s stall, with a slightly longer visit to The Luke Commission (TLC), as if to demonstrate that good health care for his people is very important to him. On the political front, His Majesty’s political acumen, as one of the SADC region’s most senior statesmen, was tested in identifying the best candidates to carry forth the spirit of renewal and transformation in response to the people’s concerns at Sibaya.

With just over a year in office, there are hints of his good judgment in the selection of individuals for the finance, Commerce, industry and trade and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) ministries, where progress is visible. There is also positive movement in the mining sector of the natural resources portfolio. We end the year with Moody’s Investors Service upgrading Eswatini’s global credit rating from B3 Positive to B2 Stable due to Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg’s institutional reforms, such as the establishment of the SACU Stabilisation Fund and clearance of domestic arrears.

Attractive

This has created a stable fiscal landscape, supported the economy, and helped Eswatini become more attractive to investors. The King’s decision to retain Manqoba Khumalo as Commerce, Industry, and Trade Minister appears to be paying off, as the minister has carried forward the strategic investor road map and the post-Covid-19 recovery plan. The economy has enjoyed strong economic growth, driven by expansion in industry, retail, and mining. Eswatini’s GDP is expected to slow by 3.6 per cent in 2024, following a 5.0 per cent growth rate in 2023, with medium-term growth prospects looking promising at an average of 5.4 per cent, peaking at 8.3 per cent in 2025.

Unemployment was one of the main concerns raised at Sibaya, and Khumalo must ensure that these data translate into jobs and money in people’s pockets. Meanwhile, the King’s efforts to develop Eswatini into a First World country have found a capable candidate in Savannah Maziya, his choice for ICT Minister, who has extensive multilateral, business, media and technology experience. The primary gateway to the First World is ICT, and the good news is that we now have a document that informs us exactly where we are, what our weaknesses are, and what we need to do to progress into the First World. The Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) has been given a fresh lease on life, and it must push the transformation agenda under the leadership of a workaholic minister who keeps everyone on their toes.

We end the year optimistic that putting government services in your hands is more than just a pipe dream. Thuli Dladla, the King’s appointment for Deputy Prime Minister, has also had a positive impact in responding to Sibaya’s demand for humanitarian assistance for impoverished emaSwati. She is a get-up-and-go type of servant, and if she continues at her current rate, practically all of the impoverished elderly will be living in decent homes by the end of her tenure, with orphans well cared for. Her major challenge remains handling increased occurrences of gender-based violence (GBV) and the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) fund, which has caused her to clash with head teachers, resulting in some OVC students being sent out of class on multiple occasions.

Managed

There is no faulting the Health Minister, Mduduzi Matsebula, for the inherited drugs shortage crisis, which continues to be a thorn in the flesh of the public. However, he has managed to establish that elusive relationship with The Luke Commission (TLC), which remains one of the country’s few efficient health centres, as envisaged by the King during his visit there.
Matsebula has also set in motion the transformation of the Central Medical Stores (CMS) into an autonomous organisation, which will hopefully end the drug crisis and provide much-needed respite to the King and the country.

Beyond our borders, His Majesty has established several significant partnerships this year, and we anticipate an increase in bilateral exchanges that should benefit the Kingdom if properly managed by those he has entrusted with carrying out their duty. The public must receive regular updates on the outputs of the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed by the country with new and old bilateral friends. His Majesty has some strong leverage to work with as he prepares for 2025, thanks to some of the positive outcomes of his decisions. We believe they will spark change in other areas of governance that require immediate attention. One need not mention the obvious: corruption, the judiciary, education, and agriculture.
Bayethe, Wena Waphakathi! Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you all!

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