RESTORATION OF PEACE, SECURITY TOP PRIORITY - PM

EZULWINI – Prime Minister Russell Dlamini says restoration of peace, security and tolerance for one another, should be at the top of the 12th Parliament’s priorities.

The PM was speaking during the induction conference for the 12th Parliament yesterday. He said it was fitting that the event took place when they were fresh in government, full of ideas and carrying a clear mandate from the King from Sibaya. The premier said restoration of peace, security and tolerance for one another, should be at the top of their priorities.

threats

“The threats to peace and security and sustainable development experienced a few years ago demonstrated the need to change course on our approach to engage, by being preventive rather than reactive. We must do all we can to ensure that the economy of this country never suffers such a down-turn again.  Similarly, we have to work on the country’s preparedness programmes for unprecedented crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of ongoing global conflicts,” he said. The PM said another area of urgent attention was poverty. He noted that he had been exposed to the needs of the people of Eswatini, therefore, he knew poverty was real in this kingdom.

He pleaded with the 12th Parliament to find a lasting solution to poverty alleviation and job creation, through growing the economy.  He also stressed the need of intentional strategies, with tangible sustainable results, to address the alarming high rate of youth unemployment. “Rather than spending resources on activities that will distract them only for a short period, let us optimally utilise our resources to empower them with skills at primary and high school levels,” he said.  The premier added that there were youth empowerments that the nation established, while they were also investing in similar programmes. Dlamini said these policies needed to be revisited in order for them to work. He added that youth unemployment may seem to be an isolated problem but the reality was that it cascaded and triggered other challenges, therefore, it must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Integrity

Furthermore, Dlamini said there was a need to execute the legislation, oversight and representation role with integrity and remain grounded by the dictates of the Constitution of Eswatini.
“I believe we were all taking keen interest in the politics of the country and we will align our contributions accordingly. We have also pledged ‘kuba tintfungo leticotfo’ to His Majesty, therefore, I am confident that we will see no need to be comfortable in applying strategies that have proven to set us back as a nation,” he said. Dlamini said service delivery must not only be just talk but Parliament must work together with the Executive and rid emaSwati of all burdens that were a result of centralised services. He then personally committed to working together with Parliament during his term and requested the legislators to put the country first and strive towards the common goal of a turnaround that His Majesty and the nation have entrusted them with.

Transformation

Meanwhile, the United Nation (UN) Resident Co-ordinator, George Wachira, said they were also looking forward to engaging with the parliamentarians on the newly-proposed six transitions or transformation that could help accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as food systems, education, energy access and affordability, digital connectivity, jobs and social protection, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. He emphasised on the need for legislators to continue engaing, with their constituencies. “These engagements will enable MPs to understand their constituencies’ issues and the constituencies would understand the role of politicians,” he said.

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