PM’S STATEMENT SETS GOVT POLICY

MBABANE – Russell Mmiso Dlamini could be counted as one of the country’s prime ministers (PM) who issued a statement within a month of his appointment.

It took him 20 days to issue what Alpheous Nxumalo, in an interview, described as a policy statement. Russell’s predecessor, Cleopas Dlamini, issued his statement 12 days after his appointment by His Majesty the King Mswati III. Former PMs Ambrose Dlamini and Cleopas alongside the incumbent Russell have maintained Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini’s record of issuing the statement within a month of royal appointment. After his appointment, Russell had to assist the King in the appointment of the ministers. He also had to chair the meeting in which parliamentarians introduced themselves to the King.

He also had honour the End of the Year Prayer Service hosted by His Majesty the King at Mandvulo Grand Hall at Lozitha Palace.
In an interview, Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary, said the prime minister’s policy statement would guide the Cabinet programme of action for the next five years.

Policy

Experts define a policy statement as an organisation-level document that prescribes acceptable methods or behaviours. Essentially, a policy is simply the way things are done within an organisation or Cabinet in a political set-up. They say policies are different from procedures and standard operating procedures because they are applicable to an entire organisation and are primarily intended to set direction. Procedures and standard operating procedures, on the other hand, typically include very specific instructions used to accomplish defined tasks.

For instance, instead of referring to a specific individual in a policy statement, position titles could be used. The experts go on to explain that good policies are written in active voice and are easily understood. Short sentences avoid the use of jargon or acronyms, and using clear terms like ‘must,’ ‘required,’ ‘recommended,’ and ‘should’ make policy readable and easier to use. They are written in a very clear and formal style, such as; “all journalists are required to write five stories per day to avoid shortage of news material.” Other experts say a policy statement is a declaration of a government’s political activities, plans and intentions relating to a concrete cause or, at the assumption of office, an entire legislative season.   
In his policy statement, the PM touched on key performance indicators, that might inform his administration’s strategic plan. He committed himself to the following programmes:

• Formulation and implementation of a short to medium-term plan anchored on the Sibaya submissions;
• Development of a long term plan, grand plan. The Grand plan will seek to modernise the country based on the Tinkhundla System as a vehicle for development; 
• The Tinkhundla Administration and Development will be strengthened institutionally.
• Long term plan to incorporate country’s socio-economic development model and the investment models will be at the centre of government’s plans;
• Transformation of both economic and social outlook through investment attraction and job creation.
• Create an environment that will attract investment, foster exponential growth, and nurture innovation ultimately ensuring sustainable job opportunities and well-being for all;
• Government to work towards a society where every citizen, including persons with disabilities, women and children as well as the elderly feel safe and valued.
• Government to improve the education curricula to reflect our African values and instill a winning mindset.
• Strengthening of vocational institutions curricula with business acumen.
• Government to strengthen the healthcare system by finding a lasting solution to the current crisis and by strategically increasing the focus on preventive health.
• Government will give due attention to social services on which the poor and vulnerable depend;
• Agriculture’s potential will be harnessed to employ many of the unemployed youth. This will be through large projects of commercialisation, mechanisation and building strong market systems that offer attractive returns to individual farmers.
•  Government to ensure that agricultural systems are adapted to climate change while fostering resilience and ensuring food security and sovereignty; 
• Every sector and government department will be integrated into the plan to attain the desired growth.
• ICT, tourism, mining and manufacturing, among other important sectors, will receive appropriate attention and investment from government;
• Infrastructure development plans will be ambitious and reflective of the mindset of thinking big.
• With a majority of people predicted to live in cities, the future is urban, and it is critical that government builds resilient infrastructure that is long lasting.

Government will endeavor to complete all outstanding projects and ensure that new projects are cost effective, timeously completed, and responsive to the needs of the people. As part of the global community, Eswatini will continue to consider important global issues such as attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), climate change initiatives, and disaster risk reduction. The Kingdom of Eswatini is forearmed and must not be caught off-guard by any hazardous event, whether natural or man-made, such as the recent upheavals and COVID-19; The PM’s administration will fight corruption by ensuring that the public sector acts in the interest of the people, by being transparent and accountable, and by exposing corrupt activities. Capacity of all government institutions that have a role in fighting and eradicating corruption will be significantly strengthened.

• Government will promote the rule of law and strengthen the capacity of police services to enforce the laws of the country;
• Since the need to inculcate a culture of excellence reverberated throughout Sibaya submissions, the roadmap for development and economic growth shall, therefore, be underpinned by a demonstration of excellence;
• Remodel public service in line with the culture of excellence to ensure efficient service delivery;
• Rigorously pursue the vision of Eswatini attaining first world status and being identified a ‘developed country’.
• Government will focus on a few priorities through a sustainable, and integrated approach.

It is imperative that emaSwati and the government they elected chart their own path and resist the temptation of being tossed backward and forward, spreading the budget too thinly, and doing too many things; resulting in achieving very little. A senior politician advised that the policy statement should also be made before Parliament for filing purposes and for it to be captured by the Hansard, which is also used for future reference.  
Meanwhile, the incumbent PMmentioned that he would unveil the Grand plan for the government.

His predecessor, Cleopas, in his two and half years in office, used Mandvulo’s Post COVID-19 Kingdom of Eswatini Economic Recovery Plan – carving the path to a private sector-led economy. On the other hand, Barnabas Dlamini had ESRA I and ESRA II. ESRA means Economic and Social Review Agenda. Absalom Themba Dlamini unveiled a programme styled ‘SPEED’ (Smart Programme on Economic Empowerment Development).
Through the SPEED, AT’s administration intended to achieve the mission of the government within ‘the next three to five years’ by implementing components that would facilitate such achievement and create opportunities for the fulfilment of the State’s vision.

Mitigate

The programme detailed clearly the challenge areas and suggested policies and programmes to mitigate them and further spearhead a sustainable economy, expand the private sector, improve global partnerships for national and regional development.These policies and programmes were put in place to address such issues as HIV/AIDS, poverty, unemployment and job creation, small and medium enterprise growth, good governance and corruption as well as fiscal discipline and accountability.The nation awaits Russell’s Grand Plan and it is not yet clear when the prime minister will unveil.

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