Allow me to weigh in on the on-going discussion regarding radio being an essential service. I understand that as a nation we are faced with a mammoth task of reigning in the burgeoning wage bill and multiple cost pressures, amid a dwindling resource base. It is therefore critical that we re-evaluate our spending patterns and find efficiencies and improve the countries cashflow and resource requirements. I believe that this is the line of thinking that the ministry of public services has taken a valid line of thought. However, finding efficiencies requires a structured approach and a tactical execution maneuver not based on what one feels about a certain sector or issue. I believe the 1st step is defining what constitutes an essential service.
Essential service
An essential service refers to any activity or sector whose interruption would endanger the life, health, safety, or well-being of the population. These services are considered so critical to public welfare or national stability that they must remain operational even during emergencies, strikes, or lockdowns. Essential services are defined by their critical role in ensuring public survival, safety and welfare. Their uninterrupted operation is legally and ethically prioritized because any disruption can have dire consequences. Eswatini and all SACU countries classify radio and broadcasting as an essential service, because of its critical role in maintaining public communication, national stability and democratic participation, especially during emergencies or elections.
Is radio an essential service?
Radio is considered an essential service because of its unmatched ability to provide timely, reliable, and accessible information to the public especially during emergencies, national events, or crises. In contexts like Eswatini, where geographic and socioeconomic diversity can limit access to other media, radio plays a pivotal role in delivering public health messages, disaster alerts, and civic education in multiple languages. It also fosters democratic participation by ensuring equitable coverage during elections and offering platforms for diverse public voices. Recognizing its societal impact, the government classifies radio as essential to safeguard its continuous operation, often limiting industrial disruptions such as strikes within the sector. This designation is not merely regulatory it reflects radio’s value as a conduit for national stability, inclusion and resilience.
Economic benefits
Radio, when treated as an essential service, functions as a public good with wide economic benefits. It fosters market access and coordination by broadcasting price updates, job notices, and public service announcements especially in underserved and rural areas where other media may be limited. Its affordability supports small businesses through localized advertising, while its reach enhances civic engagement and disaster response, minimizing disruption and stabilising livelihoods.
At the same time, radio drives long-term development by delivering educational content, public health messaging, and vocational training that build human capital. As media ecosystems evolve, radio adapts by incorporating digital platforms and monetization strategies like online streaming and subscription services securing financial sustainability while amplifying its social value. These dual economic roles community anchor and agile innovator justify its classification as an essential service.
Therefore, public service must re-evaluate her stance on the issue and take a broad view of identifying efficiencies. What is critical is a government wide approach to identify the efficiencies.
An alternative
The Government can identify efficiencies in the radio sector by rationalizing infrastructure investments, consolidating overlapping broadcast services, and promoting shared transmission networks across regions. Rather than downgrading radio’s essential status, strategic partnerships with community stations, NGOs, and educational institutions can enhance outreach at minimal cost. Digital migration efforts should focus on hybrid platforms that retain radio’s wide accessibility while enabling cost-effective dissemination via mobile and web. Regulatory streamlining such as simplifying licensing procedures and spectrum allocation can further reduce overheads. These reforms preserve radio’s public utility function while aligning with fiscal discipline and sectoral modernisation.
Elephant in the room
Corruption is one of the most significant barriers to efficiency and development in country, undermining service delivery, distorting public priorities, and weakening institutional credibility. By confronting this challenge head-on, the government can unlock substantial gains in the governments financial position. We need to pluck the holes, the country leaks approximately E1.09bn to corruption per year. Addressing the issue of corruption will result in efficiency gains without the need for downgrading radio from essential services. We need to bolster the might of the anti-corruption commission so people can feel its wrath. Tackling corruption allows for more efficient budgeting, timely project execution, and higher-value procurement ensuring that public funds are directed toward intended programs and outcomes. It also fosters a fairer environment for businesses and civil society, attracting investment and reinforcing rule of law. Simply put, rooting out corruption is not just a governance issue, it’s a catalyst for smarter spending, better results, and inclusive national progress.
Conclusion
In navigating fiscal constraints, government must pursue efficiencies without undermining vital public goods like radio. The sector’s strategic importance to communication, inclusion, and crisis response is indisputable. A government-wide, evidence-based approach centered on reform, innovation, and anti-corruption offers a path to smarter spending. Rather than trimming from where the country gains the most, we must close leakage points, modernize operations, and reinforce institutional integrity. Efficiency is not about cuts, it’s about choices that safeguard national resilience and advance equitable development.
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